Irving Zavaleta-Jimenez '08

Birthplace: Veracruz, Mexico

Current Hometown: Burlington,NC

Majors: Accounting and French

I found out about Guilford College in the last minute.  I was invited to attend an ESL (English as a Second language) career fair as an interpreter. In there, I met the migrant outreach coordinator of Alamance school system. After sharing with her my ambitions of obtaining a higher education, she told me she knew a financial aid counselor from Guilford College. She encouraged me to apply and then I got accepted. I still remember when Anthony Gurley from gave me a call and told me of my acceptance into Guilford. It was the beginning of a dream; the dream of being the first of my family to graduate from college.   After my acceptance, Anthony Gurley came to visit me to my high school. It was then when I understood the school interest in me.

At Guilford, you can be the change you have always wanted to be. Being involved in the Bonner Scholars program has not only given me the privilege to serve my community, but it has also given me the opportunity to present workshops around the nation about the Latino Education Path in North Carolina. Through the partnership that Guilford College and Glenwood library have, I had the privilege of tutoring English to adult immigrants from all over the world. I didn’t only share my knowledge of the language with them, but I also learn from the many experiences they have to go through when they come to the United States at an older age.

Thanks to help of the Multicultural Resource Center, I along other Latino students, created the first Latino club on campus: Hispanos Unidos de Guilford (H.U.G). With this, we have being able to educate the Guilford community about Latino culture, tradition, and issues.

I recommend Guilford only if you are willing to step out of your comfort zone, only if you want to experience and learn new things. If you are willing to do this, you will have an incredible experience here.

After Guilford, I would like to pursue an MBA and/or a M.A in Latin American studies. In the near future, I see myself working with a Latino organization. My dream is also to become an inspirational speaker for young Latinos, encouraging to pursue a higher education.

I recommend everyone to get involve in voluntarism. You get so much out of it!  Get involve in clubs and organizations. You can be the difference!