From Struggle to Strength: How SHPE Transformed My Passion into Purpose

Anger initially fueled my passion for change—and over time, it became hope and purpose.

At the 2024 SHPE National Convention, I reflected on the journey that brought me here. As an immigrant, I know firsthand the challenges of assimilation, the feeling of existing in the ‘unknown.’ At a young age, I felt a deep drive to help others, especially those without the support or guidance they deserved. In high school, I took on the transformation of my school's English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) tutoring organization. I advocated for my ESOL peers, but I realized that language barriers weren’t the real obstacle—it was the lack of support from those meant to help them succeed.

I was angry.

Instead of offering additional support, some teachers were encouraging ESOL students to drop certain classes, not because they lacked capability, but due to the language barrier. A system designed to support students in overcoming obstacles was instead limiting their potential. Seeing my peers discouraged left me frustrated and driven to make a change. While I knew I couldn’t change the education system, I realized I could find a community of role models to show my peers that their potential was limitless. So, I looked outside for support, seeking people who would inspire my peers to reach for the stars.

This is when my sister introduced me to SHPE, and I finally felt a sense of purpose, driven by the vision of helping my peers.

With her encouragement, I contacted and worked with SHPE Houston to create SHPE Jr. HTX, an extension of the Professional Chapter. This is when I met the first people in SHPE who encouraged me on my journey ( Raquel Tamez —the SHPE CEO at the time, Abraham Madrigal , Mayra Sanchez , Andres N. , and Juan Moreno-Gongora, PMP , may he rest in peace). My high school’s administrative barriers prevented me from establishing an official chapter, but SHPE Jr. HTX became a place where students could find role models who believed in them and saw their potential for greatness.

This is where my SHPE journey truly began.

Years later, as an undergraduate, I was able to play a part in establishing SHPE at Southern Methodist University 's first-ever SHPE Jr. Chapter during my presidential term, fulfilling that high school dream of creating a space for students to feel supported and empowered. It was a full-circle moment for the girl who just wanted to help her peers.

And our impact didn’t stop there. During this same year, SHPE SMU was honored with the 2022-2023 Gold Chapter Award—a recognition that represents more than just an accolade for all the work done that year by our driven team (Arath Dominguez, Jose Hernandez, Brenda Baez, Noah Barnard, Brianna Navarro, Brenda Campuzano, Monica Flores Perez, Antonio Segura, Victoria Valdez , Giovanni Boscan, Randy Vega, and Enrique Martinez ) and with our incredibly supportive Chapter Advisor, Linda Parker, M.Ed . Our chapter’s work was a testament to the power of community, resilience, and collaboration. Together with the Hispanic community on campus, we turned our shared vision into a reality, amplifying the visibility and strength of our culture and achievements.

But I wanted to take this vision even further, scaling up our impact to reach students beyond our campus. So, after having served as a Vice-Regional Student Representative (RSR) during my presidency, I ran and was elected SHPE Region 5 's Student Representative. Determined to empower other chapters and their leaders, I worked alongside our outstanding Regional Team: Cindy Sanchez , David Reynoso , and Tahimy Landestoy Acosta , our incredible Vice-RSRs: Jose Tabarez , Miguel Angel Fuentes Garcia , Ryanne Marquez , and Alejandro Lopez , and our fantastic Committee Directors: Salena Torres , Francis Valencheck, M.Sc. , and Adriana Ruiz . I specifically focused on the creation and distribution of resources such as the Professional Development Handbook, a product of the effective collaboration between the Region 5 Student Representative Team and the Professional Development Committee, led by Salena Torres. Though not exhaustive, other high-level areas I focused on were the collaborations with SHPE National, which would not have been possible without Ashleigh Tierney, M.Ed. 's guidance and support, to host events such as the NCP Webinar Series to guide chapters through the updated Report structure and the strengthening of our engagement and relations with all chapter leaders across the 7 states in Region 5.

Outside of SHPE, at Southern Methodist University , I also became a founding member of the SMU Lyle School of Engineering Thrive Scholars Program, a peer mentorship program created to support and empower students from underrepresented communities in engineering through peer mentorship, seminars, a sense of community, and dedicated support and resources. With the guidance of our leadership Dr. Kelyn Rola , Alain Mota , and Kathy Hubbard , the founding members / first cohort of peer mentors worked to create a space where students from underrepresented backgrounds could thrive and feel equipped to overcome the obstacles that come with being a first-year or transfer engineering student. With each cohort, the program grew to new heights achieving a retention rate consistently higher than that of all first-year SMU students, and I was fortunate not only to work alongside passionate and talented individuals, such as my dear friend Hannah L. , but also to witness the impact of having a support system on both the mentees and the peer mentors guiding them along their journey.

Who would’ve thought that the girl striving to create change at her high school would one day be recognized at the local, regional, and national levels? Not me.

I am immensely grateful for my family—my parents and my sister, and role model, Manuela Murillo Sanchez . They have always pushed me to strive for excellence and taught me to fight for my dreams with everything I have, forging my own path with them by my side every step of the way. Thank you to my mentors and friends who believed in me when I didn’t fully believe in myself, and to those who listened to my ambitious, sometimes outlandish ideas, helping me bring them to life.

Your impact on me and the world is truly inspiring. When I feel like giving up, I think of each of you and remind myself that I am not alone on this journey.

Being awarded the STAR Undergraduate Role Model Award is a profound honor, one that reflects the strength of the SHPE community and the unwavering support I’ve received throughout our journey. Thank you, SHPE, for believing in my vision and empowering me to become a leader who lifts others up. This award isn’t just a milestone; it’s a reminder of all we’ve accomplished together and the impact we still strive to make.

Thank you, SMU and the Lyle School of Engineering, for giving me the space and support to bring my ideas to life and for celebrating every accomplishment of our community along the way.

And to SHPE Houston, thank you for recognizing my potential early on and naming me a ‘Leader of Tomorrow’ back in high school—a title I carry forward with pride. Sharing this full-circle moment with Abraham Madrigal at the STAR Awards Gala was truly meaningful and a testament to the incredible journey SHPE has made possible.

Thank you to my SHPE familia for everything. This isn’t a goodbye—it’s just the beginning of what we can achieve together. As I dedicate the next few years to advancing my career and pursuing business school, my goal is to scale up my impact on both national and global levels. I look forward to the day when I can bring even more to our community, uplift others, and help shape a future filled with opportunity and empowerment.

So, here’s to the journey ahead and the incredible milestones we have yet to reach—together.