Aliento Features: Bryanda Moreno Verdugo

Introduce yourself.

My name is Bryanda Moreno Verdugo. I was born in Culiacan, Sinaloa, Mexico. My family immigrated to Phoenix when I was two years old and have stayed here ever since. Now I live with my mom and two younger siblings while studying Psychology at GCU, with a full ride scholarship from Dream.US, while waiting for my DACA application to be approved.

How did you find out about Aliento? Why did you get involved?

I found out about Aliento through my high school English teacher, Mrs. Randich, during my junior year. She told me it was an organization that helps students that have DACA or are undocumented by giving them resources and opportunities to express themselves.They also reach out to the community to help families that are in need. She formed a field trip for Education Day (E-day) where we go to the capital and talk to legislators and educate them on the importance for in-state tuition for undocumented and DACA students. I joined the field trip and although I was nervous, I had a great time talking to the representatives. From there, I’ve joined Aliento with increasing commitment from being an intern to now being a fellow.

Why does the work we are doing matter to you? Why is in-state tuition for everyone important?

The work that I’m doing matters because there are families and students out there who don’t know how to express their experiences or don’t talk about their experiences due to fear. So I share my story, because it is similar to that of thousands of students and families around the US. If citizens of the US can get in-state tuition, then students who were brought here at a young age should also be able to get in-state tuition, because not everyone has the opportunities like me to be able to go to a good university. It is important for others to pursue a higher education, and with the work I’m doing, I’ll be able to change that. :)

What moments from the fellowship are you most proud of? What is something you learned from the fellowship?

I was proud of my event that I had during the fall semester. I teamed up with my friends at the fellowship with Aliento to bring awareness to my fellow GCU students about in-state tuition and why it’s important. I learned that practice makes perfect. I practiced sharing my story to others whether or not they relate to it. Projecting confidence to instill credibility even if I was nervous. Another event that really impacted me was the Butterflies event I helped host. One of the fellows and I hosted an event where we made butterflies that represent us as people growing and changing from our life events. It made me think about how I have learned and grown from the challenges I’ve faced.

How has the work we have done impacted you?

It impacted me by reflecting on my choices as a student, and undocumented person. The work I have done has helped me share my story and experiences with people who either don't understand, have similar experiences, or people who are interested in hearing my story. It has also helped me see what other people go through as members of mixed status families. I've seen that we are all going through the same battles, just different solutions. During this fellowship I learned how to communicate better, speak my mind, talk about my story and talk to representatives in the capital during E-day. All of this was a very interesting experience, although I enjoyed it, it's not for everyone. This work has empowered me to continue my studies, as I aim for a doctorate degree.