Aaron Reyes
Fall Quarter
2025
I Got Mimi
Getting my first cat ever has been one of the most surprising and beautiful things in my life. I never fully understood the unique bond you can share with a cat until she joined my life and completely reshaped my daily routine. She has been a good reminder that sometimes the best comfort doesn’t require words, but just a calm presence sitting right beside you. She has shown me a different side of responsibility and has brought so much warmth into my life. It is amazing to me how Mimi can teach me so much about empathy and care. Becoming a cat dad has been an incredible experience and I’m just so grateful to have her comfort in my life.
Applied to Grad School
Applying to graduate school was easily one of the scariest and most intimidating experiences because as a first-generation student, I was navigating something completely unknown to me. From writing personal statements to figuring out how to secure letters of recommendation, every step has been overwhelming me with a bit of imposter syndrome. I didn’t have a parent or sibling who could help me figure it out and provide tips on what to include in my application. Pushing through that fear taught me the importance of self confidence.
Returned to Garfield High School
I was able to expand my volunteer experience by returning to Garfield High School and working specifically in a multilingual learning classroom. Each class ranges from 10-15 students, but most of them don’t speak the same language are being instructed by English-only speaking teachers. I have seen how these students get overlooked because of their inability to speak and understand English fluently. I have been lucky enough to build relationships with the students despite the language barriers. Every day I get so inspired from watching and learning from these students and seeing how despite these barriers and inequalities they face, they come ready to learn and with positive attitudes every day. I am excited to continue this journey with them throughout the year.