I was born and raised in Los Angeles, California. Currently I am a junior at the University of Southern California. Some of my interests as a student include: immigration, education policy reform and social change. Currently I am involved in an organization on campus known as Chicanos for Progressive Education (CPE). The high schools CPE visits are neighboring schools in South Los Angeles that have low retention rates, are overcrowded and underfunded. These are not just characteristics of a school, but walls that prevent students from having access to the necessary resources that will encourage them to succeed. We foster the idea of a higher education whether it be: Community College, Cal-State schools, UC's or private institutions. Also, this spring I was able to take part in the annual Sustainability Summit in partnership with the Los Angeles Business Council. Where the USC program for Environmental and Regional Equity headed by Dr. Manuel Pastor presented on: Multifamily Rooftop Solar and Social Equity in Los Angeles. Some issues of discussion included: if solar investment in multi-family housing could occur in distressed neighborhoods. The data showed that many low-income renters currently live in high-solar potential neighborhoods and could relieve the cost of utilities significantly. It has been all part of an effort in creating a market for many of the residents of Los Angeles, especially in lower-income communities. Lastly, I will present my senior honors thesis next spring in American Studies and Ethnicity on the case study of Gardeners in Los Angeles. Being the son of immigrant parents from Mexico, and having my father be part of this labor force-I am interested in looking at social networks of gardeners, entrepreneurship, and generational progress between gardeners and their children. Through my research I hope it may to bring to light many of the negative misconceptions of our nation's immigrants. I plan on pursuing my gradate degree from Harvard University. I look forward to doing research and will apply to Harvard's PhD program in: History of American Civilizations. However, I am also extremely passionate about applying to the Joint Degree Program in Law & Government at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government.