Life of a Fellow: Santos Diaz
When it comes to life after school, the conversation is often all about planning. But even the best laid plans don’t always pan out.
That’s why our programming isn’t just about making the plans, but also developing the skills and networks to adapt when things change.
Meet Santos
Santos is Boricua born and raised in New Jersey! He graduated from Haverford College in Pennsylvania where he majored in sociology and sang in the Ford S'Chords acapella group. In his free time, he enjoy nature, making art, and spreading kindness!
Succeeding means Planning, Preparing, but being ready to Pivot
This is a hard lesson I learned as I began to organize my post-grad pursuits my senior year at Haverford College. My goal throughout much of my undergraduate career was to prepare myself for a future profession in public policy and government. I applied to countless law firms, political campaigns, and public offices hoping to find an organization that would take on a newbie with no practical experience in the policy world. It was a path I felt surely set upon, that was until a lack of opportunities presented themselves, and I found myself two months before graduation scouring my college job board with worry of what the future might hold for me. That’s when I learned about 12 Plus and the amazing college and career advising work they do in schools and communities. Their mission is laid with purpose and intent in how they advise the next generation to pursue their desired path. The pieces began to fit together in a way I had not yet realized and while I didn’t know it yet, I was being set on a path of growth, fulfillment, and enlightenment.
I read about 12 Plus’ mission and immediately I was intrigued by the chance to support students who came from disadvantaged backgrounds like myself, guiding them in their future endeavors and goals. During my college application journey, a similar organization called Matriculate had helped me to achieve my goal of receiving a full ride scholarship to college, a feat I had dreamed of since I was 13. The opportunity to be part of an organization that was fighting for students like me was all the motivation I needed. I had my misgivings about the position at first because I had always resisted the thought of going into education, and I didn’t know if I had the necessary skills to succeed as a teacher. But I knew that even if the position wasn’t directly related to policy and meant entering a field I had not envisioned for myself, I would be fulfilled assisting students in reaching their aspirations and training the next generation of changemakers.
From my very first interview with Bri, the org’s Director of People & Culture, I knew that 12 Plus was going to be a positive environment that fostered advancement, creativity, and a drive for change, the kind of change I wanted to be a part of. Since then, these past 6 months have been a journey of discovery and healing. As a Fellow, I’ve had the opportunity to help students achieve their postsecondary goals, giving them the support they need to realize that their potential was inside them all along. Watching the glimmer in their eye as they received their first college acceptance letter or completed their first resume has helped reaffirm my faith in the next generation. Furthermore, I’ve gotten the opportunity to build spaces of inclusivity and belonging within the Camden High community with each of my students. Their enthusiasm in taking part in our monthly lunch surveys and creativity while contributing to the doodle board in the center continues to put a smile on my face. All of these experiences have slowly begun to heal the less fortunate memories I had within my own high school journey, and now I couldn’t imagine choosing a path other than education.
Overall, my path with 12 Plus has shown me that in the most unexpected of places, you can find great fulfillment and learn things about yourself that you didn’t anticipate discovering. We often set out in life with a plan and purpose in mind, and when that pursuit shifts in focus, we may think to ourselves that somehow there was a misstep along the way. However, I understand through personal experience that there is always a reason and a path forward, and if you trust in that with due diligence, then the possibilities are endless. With this wisdom in hand, I try to impart the same lesson on each of my students, being a testament to the fact that just because you have to change the plan, doesn’t mean the purpose won’t be revealed.
From my work with this organization, I have gained invaluable knowledge on how one best supports students to succeed in their chosen path and provide them with the resources they need in and out of the classroom. I’ve also learned what it means to create vibrant and welcoming environments for students to thrive and feel open to express themselves. I plan to take these lessons in stride as I continue to pursue my ultimate goal of working in education policy and advocacy. This was just my first step in what will hopefully grow into a lifelong passion for educational equity. My plan is continuing the endeavor of stronger postsecondary and occupational outcomes for our country’s most vulnerable populations.