July Alumni Spotlight: Kathia Chevez (Wheaton High School)
With an immigrant background, Kathia M. Chavez cultivated her path to success through perseverance and by exploring opportunities early on that fueled her ambition. She was involved with Liberty’s Promise from 2010 to 2013 at Wheaton High School, where she built connections that have guided her for years. She shares her story here:
“The most valuable help was the connection to all the resources and opportunities I was unaware of prior to joining the after-school program. One of the coolest opportunities I found was the Youth Leadership of Greater Washington program, which offered year-long leadership training for youth in the DVM area. My program officer at the time encouraged me to apply but I was scared of it because I was still struggling a bit with English. However, she persisted and I am so glad she did. The application required a resume, which I had thanks to Liberty’s Promise because we had a session on resumes. I was accepted into the program with a scholarship, and the sessions were held throughout the DMV for that school year. Whenever I did not have transportation, my program officer offered to drive me. LP also helped me earn SSL hours by providing volunteer opportunities, which played an important role in my acceptance to American University. My first internship was also through Liberty’s Promise, where I interned at a local elementary school as a high school student.”
“One of my favorite memories was when Delegate Ana Sol Gutierrez came to speak to our group. She was the first Latina ever elected to the Maryland General Assembly and she was from El Salvador! As a Salvadoran myself, that was incredibly inspiring. I also really enjoyed the local park cleanups. Doing them with my friends made the experience fun, and it was something we genuinely looked forward to.”
“I was the first in my family to attend college. At first, I was undecided, but I knew I wanted to work with youth or on immigration matters. I majored in Communication, Legal Institutions, Economics, and Government (CLEG) and minored in Justice. Right after graduating from college, I worked for Liberty’s Promise at Kennedy High School and Gaithersburg High School. After that, I joined Senator Chris Van Hollen’s State Office as a Constituent Services and Outreach Representative, where I worked for four years. To our surprise, one of my former LP program officers from high school also worked with the Senator at the time. It was amazing to reconnect after many years, full circle moment for sure! I currently serve as Deputy Chief of Staff to Montgomery County Council President Natali Fani-González.”
“As an immigrant and first-generation student, I really struggled with self-doubt. Over time, I learned that the best approach is to ‘get uncomfortable’ and go for it. After all, the worst thing that can happen is you get a ‘no.’ You often ‘get out what you put in,’ so I always tell my younger sisters and students to stay engaged, ask questions, and be proactive. If you see a program or opportunity that could help you, pursue it. Don’t be afraid to reach out to a program officer or mentor if you’re unsure about something.”
Had certain resources not been made available to Kathia, she could’ve missed out on opportunities that set the foundation for higher education and later on, her career. Kathia’s journey is a testament to how guidance, through Liberty’s Promise, can alter a young immigrant’s trajectory.
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