Post by Jose Cuc-Reyes

Reflecting on the past year, I am incredibly grateful for the opportunities I've been given. I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to the Carolina Latinx Center for believing in my ideas and ambitions. Coming to Carolina was a time of transition, but thanks to the CLC, that transition was smoother and allowed me to make a meaningful impact. Serving as a Student Ambassador during the academic year, I found my passions in education equity and programming for students like me. Thank you, CLC, for being more than just a team—you are a familia. A special shoutout to Elsa Landeros and Ana Diaz for becoming amazing mentors and friends; your support helped me realize the substantial impact I could make. Throughout the year, I attended El Inicio, the Latinx welcome to Carolina. I had the incredible opportunity to introduce and meet our Latinx Heritage Month keynote speaker, Katya Echazarreta, the first Mexican woman to go to space. I also launched the Latinx Research Initiative, hosted a panel highlighting Latinx researchers at UNC, and designed a fellowship program launching in the fall of 2024. Additionally, I attended La Conferencia, our annual conference showcasing knowledge created by Latinx individuals. I look forward to the rest of my time at Carolina. This is just the beginning!