Vanessa Contreras Rodriguez

I come from a small city in Mexico where the opportunity for academic growth was dismal, which is why my parents decided to migrate to the United States in search of the American Dream. Our move to Arizona is the greatest gift my parents could have given my siblings and me. Being a very traditional Mexican household, education has been at the core of our family.

the american
dream

However, experiencing the limited resources available to students during high school, I saw the inequalities our community faces, and I wanted to do something about it. After graduating and starting my academic career at Arizona State University, I met Paul Luna. Paul welcomed me into his Helios family and provided a safe haven where I was able to make mistakes and grow as an aspiring professional.

Serving as the Community Impact Intern at Helios for a little over a year changed my outlook on life. I started to see myself within the dynamic and very complicated space of education. Helios gave me various opportunities, but ultimately set me up for success after my time at the Foundation. I have been able to continue exploring my role within education by interning and volunteering my time with organizations such as Young Invincibles in Washington, D.C., and our Valley partner, Be A Leader Foundation.

Thank you, Helios Education Foundation, for opening your doors to an eager and curious mind. I would not be where I am at today without your support and unwavering encouragement.

Vanessa Contreras-Rodriguez