Growing up as a queer Latino immigrant, I always felt like I had to code-switch into a different person when I was around others, as though I had to hide my diverse identities and true self to be respected as a human being. I would mold myself to the norms of Whiteness and heteronormativity when I wanted to be a leader. I was so terrified of being deemed as “too queer,” “too Brown,” and “too different” that I never allowed my authentic self to emerge in my leadership roles. The unique intersection of my identities also made it almost impossible to find leaders and mentors with similar experiences to mine, diminishing the number of role models I had during my childhood.
That changed once I stepped foot onto Metropolitan State University of Denver’s campus. I could not believe my eyes when I saw diverse university leaders who were authentic and unapologetically themselves. One of those leaders in particular was Roy Montgomery, the previous Director of Student Organizations and Leadership at MSU Denver, and now high-school teacher. He was one of the first people I had ever met who held similar identities to my own and was in a position of both power and leadership. It was awesome to witness his leadership style and the bravery he had to stand against the injustices students faced. Roy took me under his guidance as a mentee, and I learned that I could be an effective leader without having to code-switch into a muted version of myself. Roy made me realize I was not “too queer,” “too Brown,” or “too much,” and that my authenticity was going to be the key to becoming a leader.
Now, I try to be as authentic as possible especially when I lead. Through the intersection of my identities, I have the opportunity to expose others to the diversity found in our society. By being a genuine leader, I can expose others to new ideas while also paving the way for those with diverse identities to reach their potential. During the Fellowship, I look forward to being unapologetically myself and leading in all the spaces I am in and work that I do.
