In migrating to the U.S as a 12 year old, I was oblivious to the social and political structures that would come to limit my family’s economic mobility. This would ultimately foster in me a curiosity and eventual passion for legislative advocacy and public policy. Despite limited access to resources my perseverance has powered me to attend the University of California, Riverside (UCR) where I have the opportunity to pursue my ambition to alter the rhetoric of the stereotypical immigrant story. Through my involvement in the Associated Students of UCR's External Affairs Office, I advocate for student equity and social justice in higher education. As a member of the Legislative Advocacy Committee, my participation has enriched my experience in and knowledge of advocating for bills to legislators. I have been actively lobbying state legislators for bills and budget asks concerning issues such as disability services, Cal Grant Expansion for undocumented students, Native American repatriation, and CalFresh expansion for immigrants. Advocating for these causes has strengthened my ability to challenge and question skeptical legislators who are resistant to systemic change by citing the interests of their constituents. Through my work in Associated Students of UCR's External Office, I have committed to narrowing the gaps of inequity and injustice within the UC system. My role and responsibilities continue to act as a reminder of my desire for student equity for marginalized communities; that without the students previous to me advocating for my rights, I would have little access to undergraduate education and upward social mobility. During my second year at UCR, I continued my advocacy for immigrant rights by researching and authoring a policy proposal in an undergraduate Public Policy journal called Consilium. My policy explored financial aid expansion for undocumented students. I discuss and conduct a cost-benefit analysis of the advantages, both economic and social, of allowing undocumented students, who are usually low-income, to receive state financial aid. Through my research and by working alongside the editors of the Consilium, I outlined the reasons for the effectiveness of my policy in reaching equitable standards for education and how it will cultivate a more efficient economy. This research opportunity was incredibly empowering for me as I felt liberated in transforming my confining experiences as an undocumented immigrant into an opportunity for positive political change. After this experience, I hope to pursue more research opportunities in which I not only evaluate the impact of inequitable institutions but also propose policies that aim to mitigate discriminatory obstacles. Through my work delving into public policy and legislative advocacy, I have explored avenues for social change. Despite engaging in these opportunities that lend to my dedication to both immigrant and student issues, I plan to explore issues on a more systemic level and learn to interpret the law from the perspective of an individual passionate about social change. To be able to dedicate three years of my life in law school to learning, analyzing and decoding the law, I would be able to complexly understand the intricacies of not only our current laws, but how the laws of the past and its underlying history has shaped the inequalities of today. That is how I want to ameliorate the future; with my constant chase for knowledge, I can gain the expertise to further fuel my pursuit for immigration reform for the grander scheme of equity. My desire to empower myself through the power of knowledge is why I hope to attend law school and how I guarantee I will never stop growing, excelling, and chasing opportunities to learn.