My name is Karen Vanessa Valdez, I was born and raised in Houston, Texas. I am about to begin my fourth year at UH-D. I came to college with a love for philosophy, but have applied it to my academic career through the lens of an International Business degree, with a minor in English-Spanish translation. I first began mentoring in the Fall of 2019 from this love I have of philosophy, and mentoring, in its essence, is the passing down of wisdom. Through my efforts in the mentoring program, I am able to learn about others, and myself simultaneously. In the Peer Mentoring Program, I have worked with freshman students, as well as students on academic probation. The skills I have gained from this position have led me to get my highest achievement in college thus far, an International Business internship I did in the summer of 2020 with a company in Uruguay. Other things I have been a part of while at UH-D include the Honors Program, The Dean's List, The National Society of Collegiate Scholars Honor Society, The Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society, serving as Treasurer for Phi Sigma Tau Philosophy Honor Society, Editor In Chief of the Bayou Review, making history as UH-D's first regional championship Women's Soccer Team, and presenting at the Annual Gender Conference. This fall, I plan to assist incoming college students who are entering a whole new college world. With my interactions with them, I hope to inspire them to keep aiming high even as the world continues to change. I will not only show them how to aim high with their goals but mobilize them to be in close reach of those goals. After graduating from UH-D I plan on going to a graduate program for economics in France. I look forward to this semester!