FEBRUARY 24, 2022
Today we’d like to introduce you to Ayensa Millan.
Hi Ayensa, so excited to have you on the platform. So, before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I was born in Caborca, Sonora and raised by my maternal grandparents in Puerto Penasco, Sonora. I lived a border life going back and forth between Mexico and the U.S during the formative years of my life. Ultimately, my mother made the difficult decision to leave me in the care of my grandparents as she established herself and searched for a better life in the U.S. going years at a time without being able to see me. At the age of 16, I was able to come to the U.S. as a lawful permanent resident and have resided in Phoenix, AZ ever since. I thought coming to the United States legally would allow me to feel like I “belonged.” But this was not the case. I was often told I wasn’t going to graduate and was often made to feel as if I wasn’t “intelligent” enough. In fact, I was told to consider going to a charter school instead. However, during my last year of high school, I managed to graduate at the top of my class, on time and received a full ride to ASU where I graduated with dual degrees in Political Science and Psychology, despite constantly being told the contrary.
Once again, I was reminded, I was “different” because I was an immigrant. But I reminded myself that it didn’t mean I was any less capable, I just had to work harder. My single mother, with a ninth-grade education, making minimum wage could not help me navigate this world for me. All she could do was place a roof over my head and put food on the table. The rest was up to me.
Comments