Albert Martinez-Castro
Inver Hills Community CollegeForeign land. Foreign norms. Foreign language. I was born to a family of Mexican-immigrants who chose to restart their life in the most northern state, Minnesota, where the color of snow reflected much of its population. As a Mexican-American growing up, micro-aggressions were the norm; Spanish was the foreign language in school, and my experiences were dissimilar with classmates and teachers. I became aware of the social issues that encompassed my life. Moreover, I wasn't the only one experiencing similar issues. Conversing with my friends of color had informed me the issues they faced were as real as mine. Furthermore, I began confronting social issues by having inclusive productive dialogue among communities that normally do not communicate.
Personal Statement
Entering community college, my goal has been to create a more inclusive space for underrepresented students. On campus, I am heavily involved with the Black Student Union on campus as we organize events and dialogues to find common ground among the community. I also am an inpatient volunteer at Children's Hospital as they have been a huge part of my brothers my life. I give them thanks by being their volunteer.