Achieving a dream alongside a guiding hand

Escrito por: Emely Gonzalez 🇸🇻

Headshot of Monica Baldizon Meza. (Isai Amaya-Diaz)

Monica Baldizon Meza takes a unique approach to finding and maintaining a source of motivation in college. Instead of focusing solely on what her degree might lead to, she makes a point to emphasize who is walking with her through the journey.

Because the University of Maryland is considered a predominantly white institution, her overall experiences and her motivation for earning her degree differed from those of most of her peers.

Baldizon Meza comes from a half-American and half-Hispanic background. During middle and high school, she attended schools that were majority Black and Latino, and when she began at UMD, she wanted to meet people who came from a similar background to make her college experience better. 

“I had a really big identity crisis, which I lowkey think I'm kind of still going through right now,” she said. “If I'm with a group of Hispanics, they'll be like, ‘oh, that's the one white person in that group.’ But in reality, growing up, I feel like I'm more close with my Hispanic side.” 

Joining the Latino Student Union and serving on the executive board provided her with a sense of inclusion. She found comfort in knowing that all Latinos are different, and that's what makes the culture beautiful.

“Being a part of the e-board and going to a lot of the events where the Latino community comes together—that’s where I tell myself I feel accepted with this community,” she said. “They all have that growth mindset of ‘Latinos come in all types of colors.’” 

Baldizon Meza describes her mother as an unwavering source of support who instilled in her the importance of pursuing what she loved in life. Her mother was always there to assist her with any challenges, such as navigating the complexities of the college system. 

“I feel like doing well in college and getting that degree in the end and making sure I have a successful career out of it is not just for myself, but for my parent,” she said. 

Family of Monica Baldizon Meza. (Courtesy of Monica Baldizon Meza)

While taking a human development course, Baldizon Meza discovered her passion for the subject. This realization did not come as a surprise, as her mother worked as a nanny. 

“Because I was surrounded by that work life a lot, I was catered to work around children,” she said.

As a recipient of the Maryland Promise Scholarship Program, with an internship in a classroom setting, Baldizon Meza is one step closer to achieving a dream for two. 

“I know my mom sees herself in me, and that’s why I’m getting this degree for her, even though I’m not studying the same thing,” said Baldizon Meza. 

As she plans to continue her education by enrolling in a master’s program in education, she does so with the unwavering support of her mother’s guiding hand beside her.

“Ponte las pilas, es buena suerte de tener la oportunidad de estudiar y es una bendición. Dios te está cuidando y solo él sabe cómo será tu vida.” - Mayra Baldizon Meza