Hector Arroyo De La Paz, MTS '22, Specialty Proctor for FGLI, Canaday Proctor, Harvard College, delivered the following remarks at Morning Prayers in Harvard's Memorial Church on February 18, 2022.
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Hello everyone. My name is Hector Arroyo De La Paz, I'm a proud first generation student at Harvard Divinity School, studying religion, politics, and education. I'm honored to speak in Memorial Church, and share this beautiful morning with you all. I want to start by reciting some words from Philippians, Chapter two, verse three and four. "Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility, count others more significant than yourself. Let each of you look not only to his own interest, but also to the interest of others."
Growing up, one of my favorite pastimes was day dreaming, particularly, about the future. Whether I was on my walk to school, sitting in class, or laying in bed, I would imagine different scenarios in my head of what I would be doing in 20 years. These visions often changed. Sometimes I would be a doctor, sometimes a race car driver, and at others, an engineer. I was never quite sure of what I wanted to be, but one thing that I was certain, was my desire to go to college. My parents always stressed the importance of an education, seeing it as a powerful tool for consciousness raising, liberation, and upward mobility. I agreed. I also knew that they, themselves, did not have the opportunity to pursue a college education, nor complete secondary school. I knew I wanted to go to college, not only for myself, but for my parents, whose courage and hard work inspired and strengthened me.
It was my dream, albeit one, that at times, felt out of reach, due to my undocumented status. Today, I am a first generation college graduate, and a second year graduate student at Harvard. I am so far from what I hope to achieve and the change I wish to make, but where I am now, would be incomprehensible to 10 year old me. People like me often say, we are our ancestors' wildest dreams. I agree. But also, I think I am living my own wildest dream. With that said, however, I reflect on my presence at this institution. To some, my presence is groundbreaking and a symbol of representation, adding to the diversity of this campus, and demonstrating that people like me, the first generation, the low income, and the undocumented, are capable of being here. However, what is representation without intent? Is my presence truly groundbreaking, when there have been others like me who have walked on this campus before? And is it truly groundbreaking, if I simply arrive, earn my degree and go?
The answer is that my presence is powerful and it can be groundbreaking, but only if I choose to make it so. If I choose to use the education and exposure given to me for good, to empower, support, and give back to the communities that have raised me, to work to dismantle inequitable institutional structures, and develop greater resources and accessibility, so others too, get to live their own wildest dreams, and for these dreams to, one day, not even be considered wild. This is the representation I wish to provide, and what I believe to be my calling from God.
I may not have become a doctor, a race car driver, nor an engineer, but I became an educator; an educator that is devoted to his community, and dreams of change and progress. May this inspire you to reflect on your own journey, passions, calling, and intent. May we achieve our goals, but also work together to uplift those around us, leave them up the ladder from which we climb, and share seat and feast at the same table. Thank you.