Ana Arreaga

Ana is proud to be a product of public education. She is Mexican-American, and a first-generation college student from Balch Springs, Texas. Ana’s parents came to the United States at the age of 16 with only their elementary education and instilled in her the importance of seeking a higher education, especially as a woman of color. “Representation matters,” Ana says, “It’s important for all students, especially black, Latinx, LGBT, and disabled students to know that they hold so much power when they pursue a higher education. It’s even more important for them to know they can make changes in spaces that weren’t created by them by being leaders in their communities.” 

Ana will graduate from the University of Texas at Austin in the fall of 2020 with the support of her family, friends, and Raise Your Hands Texas.

— Paulo Freire