A reflection on education access and opportunity navigation, exploring how mentorship, information sharing, and removing barriers can empower students to discover the resources and pathways available to them.
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Success is continuing to learn, grow, and move forward, no matter the circumstances; every step teaches you something valuable.
Laura Orellana · In Her Own Words
Her Story
About Laura
Laura Orellana’s work is guided by a simple belief: public service begins with understanding people and helping them access the systems, resources, and opportunities available to them.
Her experience spans education, legal services, immigration, financial aid, research, mentoring, and community engagement. Through these roles, Laura has seen both how institutions can create opportunity and how difficult they can be to navigate without clear information, guidance, or support.
Her work has included assisting with immigration matters, supporting students navigating financial aid and higher education, mentoring first-generation college students, participating in undergraduate research, and engaging with public policy and community-based initiatives. Although these experiences span different fields, they share a common purpose: helping people better understand their options and move forward.
Laura is especially drawn to public service because of its breadth. She does not view service as belonging to one profession, agency, or policy area. Education, law, government, healthcare, economic opportunity, community development, and other fields all shape how people experience their communities and institutions.
As she continues her education and professional development, Laura is exploring different areas of public service to better understand where she can contribute most effectively. She hopes to build a career centered on service while continuing to learn and grow.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Laura
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to integrity, persistence, continuous learning, and a genuine commitment to helping others. My education, professional experiences, mentorship, research, and community involvement have taught me to stay curious, take responsibility, pay attention to detail, and embrace new challenges. I believe success is built through growth and experience, and I strive to use my knowledge and skills to serve others while continuing to develop professionally.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I’ve received was from an attorney mentor who encouraged me to pursue a business degree. It taught me that different areas of education can complement one another and that business knowledge can provide a strong foundation for a future in law. Most importantly, I learned to view education as a collection of tools for continuous growth rather than a single destination.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice to young women entering my industry is to remember that your journey will not look the same as anyone else’s, and that’s okay. Never be ashamed if your path looks different or if you feel like you’re falling behind. Everyone has their own timeline, and you are exactly where you need to be. Trust your journey, stay focused on your goals, and remember that you are on time.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
I see one of the greatest opportunities in my field as the ability to connect law, business, social science, technology, and community advocacy to create more holistic solutions. My experience in immigration support and community work has shown me the importance of accessible information, careful documentation, cultural understanding, and compassionate communication. At the same time, I see the need for professionals who understand both systems and people, and I’m excited to bring my analytical, legal, and community-based experiences together to advocate for and help others navigate complex systems.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values most important to me are integrity, advocacy, compassion, empathy, and accountability. I believe helping others requires more than technical knowledge—it requires listening, treating people with dignity, respecting confidentiality, and holding myself accountable to the standards and responsibilities entrusted to me. I strive to use my knowledge and experiences to advocate for others, empower my community, and make a meaningful difference in the lives of the people I serve.
Her Content Hub
Articles by Laura
The Information Gap: Why Access to Opportunity Starts With Knowing Where to Look
How Removing Barriers to Information Can Unlock Educational Opportunity
As a college student and peer mentor, I have learned that opportunity is not always inaccessible because it does not exist. Sometimes, the greatest barrier is simply not knowing where to look.
Higher education is filled with resources: financial aid, scholarships, internships, tutoring, transfer opportunities, career services, mentorship, and professional networking platforms. Yet navigating these systems can feel overwhelming, particularly for students who are the first in their families to attend college, adult learners returning to school, or students navigating language and information barriers.
I have seen how one conversation can change someone’s direction. Sometimes a student does not need someone to solve the problem for them. They need someone to explain the process, point them toward the right resource, or simply tell them, “This opportunity exists, and here is where you can learn more.”
That experience has shaped how I think about education access.
Access should mean more than opening the door. It should also mean giving people the information and tools necessary to navigate what is on the other side.
I am still a student myself, and I certainly do not have every answer. In many ways, I am still learning to navigate these systems, too. But that has taught me something important about leadership: you do not have to know everything to help someone move forward. Sometimes leadership means sharing what you have learned, recognizing the limits of what you can provide, and connecting someone with the person or resource that can help them take the next step.
That idea is also influencing my exploration of NextUs Foundation, an early-stage initiative I am developing around education and opportunity navigation. Before deciding what it should become, I want to listen—to students, educators, and communities—and understand where gaps actually exist.
My own educational journey continues to teach me that information can change trajectories. When we make information easier to understand, opportunities easier to find, and systems easier to navigate, we give more people the ability to make informed decisions about their own futures.
And sometimes, knowing where to begin is the opportunity that changes everything.
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