Career Services Pre-Law Info Session Feb-25

I attended the Pre-Law Info Session at the Downtown Phoenix Campus. I decided to attend for a variety of reasons. The strongest being that a variety of people who surround me are considering the idea of attending to law school. Secondly I wanted to learn more about what Law School is about and what the process is to attend. The session reaffirmed that Law School is not for everyone and that it is very pricey. I also learned a great deal of new information that I had never considered before.

I did learn that the LSAT a four hour exam which determines your legibility to attend. ASU prefers candidates with a 3.4-3.7 GPA and who obtain a scored of 150 and above on the LSAT. There are also merit-based scholarships, and Arizona has a law that only allows these types of scholarship for Law School. As well as it is a five year process, one year for admission, three years of studies, and one year to obtain the results from the Bar Test.  I really enjoyed learning about what the process even if I am not currently looking into Law School, it is always a consideration.

DACA/DAPA

On Tuesday February 17, 2015, Federal District Court Judge Andrew S. Hanen from Texas put a hold on President Obama' executive order on immigration. Yet this has not been an impediment for the office of Congressman Ruben Gallego to participate in community forums about DACA/DAPA. One event was host by his office’ constituent services at South Mountain High School. In which lawyers and other members of the community participated in a panel. They explained what the difference between DACA/DAPA is, along with what the potential requirements will be if the executive order is implemented. The lawyers caution about other legal representatives who may already requesting money for the process, since there currently is no process.

Another event to which we attended to was a forum presented by Lucha and other non-profit organizations. Which also focused on DACA/DAPA. They had panelist from different community organizations who presented DACA/DAPA information. Yet they also provided resources that maybe are useful of the demographic who will be benefit by DACA/DAPA. Some of these resources were scholarships, an international consulate. Overall I learned what DACA/DAPA is and how important it is to many communities in Arizona especially with Congressional District 7.

Los Diablos

Over my past three years at ASU I’ve been granted a full tuition ride with Los Diablos. I've learned a variety of new skills and met a great deal of wonderful people. Many who have become my greatest friends, and I know that I can always depend on them and them on me. We all work together to promote each-others growth, whether it is academically or even personally. We all have had something to offer one another over these past three years.

Some of these people are Lily Barajas  a wonderful friend that has always guided me to grow as a professional and protect my faith.  Soulie Segovia is the one I can talk about anything with, whether it is about school or life and anything in between. Then there is Balta Hernández who is so full of life and culture and has helped me explore my identity as a woman and Latina/Chicana. I know I have missed others like Darlene Jones and Joselinne Mora but all my fellow scholars know what I've taken from them. Appreciate everything that this Los Diablos experience has given me.

Business Management Class

I am currently taking an accelerated version of a business management class at ASU.  The class will be over on March 3, which is exciting since on average I was turning in about five assignments per week.  Yet I think this was my favorite class of the semester by far, not because it was only eight weeks but due to the fact that I actually learned new concepts. I enjoyed the peer comments/ reviews on assignments. It was a great experience to see what your peers think of the work you do. It was nice that they were the pre-graders before the professor to a look at our work.

The entire class was focused on how to write for a business from a manager standpoint. What was special was that we had to create our own business; we built upon this by completing assignments that would relate on how to have a successful business. For example how would we use social media within our businesses? Sure at first glance it may seem easier “We will just open an account and post on it,” but then you have to stop and think about how will it positively or negatively affect my business.  Overall this class was definitely a learning experience and the professor was wonderful. If you ever get a chance take TWC 347 with Terri Thorson.

Office of Congressman Ruben Gallego

The office of Congressman Ruben Gallego, represents the 7^th congressional district of Arizona. The Congressman Ruben Gallego was elected into congressional office in November 2014, he is currently serving his first term in Washington D.C.. Congressman Ruben Gallego is the son of Hispanic immigrants; he was the first to attend college in his family. The Congressman graduated from Harvard University with a degree in International Relations. Congressman Ruben Gallego is a Marine Corps veteran who served in Iraq. The main priority of the Congressman is to represent and serve to the best of his abilities the people of Arizona; all while promoting progress on Capital Hill.

The focus of the Congressman Ruben Gallego’s office is Arizona constituent services and Arizona community outreach. Constituent services entails providing referrals for individuals who need assistance with any federal matters such as home foreclosure, immigration amongst others. Community outreach focuses on setting up events that will be hosted by constituent services. As well as setting up events that the Congressman Ruben Gallego will attend when in Arizona. I will be working with constituent services on casework of constituent, along with carrying out office duties, such at data entry and research. Overall I am glad to have such an amazing learning experience, which will enhance my understanding of what congress means in America.

Andres

Since I am the oldest grandchild in my family many of the children find motivation in me. Yet what no one knows is that the youngest one has motivated me this last year. My youngest cousin is Andres, who happens to be my Godson as well. Andres was born January 24^th, 2014. What makes Andres unique is what some may call a tragedy. He was born three weeks early, with a single ventricle heart. Which meant that his heart inserted if having two chambers it had one. At his one-month check-up, he was hospitalized at PCH due to an extremely low level of oxygen in his blood. After a month in the hospital and three near death experiences, which required liquid resuscitation he had an emergency, open heart surgery. The surgery would help to build the chamber that was missing in his heart. After his heart surgery in March he stayed at the hospital until April 15^th.

As Andres was in the hospital he taught me so many lessons about why life is important. Like the fact that the universe never gives you anything that you cannot handle. Yet the best thing I learned from him is that no matter how painful life may be you have to smile. Everyday he smiled even with all the procedures he was having and pain he felt. He helped me to appreciate everyday, not knowing if it may be the last. I remember walking in to his hospital room and just feeling a sigh of relief because he was still there. In March it will be one year of his first surgery, although the road has been very long, with many doctors’ appointments, papers and still more to come. It is amazing to say that a child who cannot have an converse can show you that life will always has a deeper meaning, and that even if all odds are against you, you must fight.

A Typical Day

There is no exact pattern that takes place at my internship in the office of Congressman Ruben Gallego. I arrive at the office at 9:00AM. I read news articles that have the opinions of the Congressman Ruben Gallego has on issues that are taking place in Arizona, D.C. and across the nation. Once I have read all of the latest news, I either start to complete any task that I did not finish the day before or see what I can work on. For example lately I have been working on a research project about the Loop 202 South Mountain, so after reading the news I begin to work on that.

Throughout the day I switch off with the staff assistant, Hanna, while she runs errands or goes to lunch. I will usually answer phone calls and take messages for different staff members. Some days I am assigned data entire tasks, which include inputting business cards or contact information from events. There are other days I make copies and scan faxes/ letter we received. At about 2PM-3PM I go to retrieved the mail, if we do have any mail it is all open and stamped with the date received. After that I continue to work of any task, I was working on. Depending on the day I leave the office at 4:30PM-5:30PM.