Making a difference
The ability to balance college classes, community involvement and being the mother of a 2-year-old son may stand as an obstacle for some, but Iris Sanchez takes everything in stride.
A freshman studying social work and sociology, she has made a mark on Utah State University and around Cache Valley, and she is only beginning.
Everardo Martinez-Inzunza, director of Multicultural Student Services, said, “Logan and Cache Valley need ambassadors like her.
“The university is a place where we have so many treasures,” he said. “One of the most valued treasures are the students. And among them, there are a few gems. She is one of them.”
For Sanchez, life is more than just going to classes. She spends much of her time helping the community and volunteering where she can.
“I love working in the community- helping people out,” she said.
Martinez-Inzunza said, “She has displayed a very strong sense of self-concept and a strong commitment to doing her best.”
Sanchez has only lived in Cache Valley for four or five years after moving here from California.
“I was born in Mexico,” she said. “When I was 6 or 8, I moved to Los Angeles.”
Her story really begins in when she entered high school.
“When I started high school, I really didn’t like it at all,” Sanchez said. “My grades were not good at all.”
On the day she gave birth to her son, she decided she needed to change her life.
“When I started my junior and senior years I decided ‘this is it,’ and gave it all I had,” she said.
Her first year of school was actually in California, where she was involved in cheer leading and was a member of her school’s soccer team. But when she moved to Utah, she found school life was very different.
“When I got here I was like, ‘wow, I am part of a small group,'” Sanchez said.
Once her son was born, she moved to the North Campus run by Logan High School.
“I have to have a plan so I don’t waste time,” she said. “It was really hard at first, as he gets older he has more needs. I don’t know how I do homework, mentor a high school student and take care of a son.”
As a first generation college student, she is the role model for the rest of her family. Martinez-Inzunza said it is more than just her work at the college, but her work with the community that will help her family.
He said she is constantly helping to organize local Cinco De Mayo celebrations and bringing diversity to the community. She has been working to get other Hispanic students to enroll in college, get adults to work on their GED’s and also help members of the community learn English.
“She is very proud of her culture and other peoples’ cultures,” he said. “That gives her the strength to respect others.”
Part of the respect she has for others includes a desire to serve them.
Christine Christensen, outreach/activities facilitator for Multicultural Student Services, said, “She always has an idea or service project she is excited about. She’s always excited about helping people and creating cultural awareness in the community.”
After one semester at USU, Sanchez has shown her commitment to her scholastic work.
Christensen said Sanchez had the second-highest freshman GPA among the multicultural students.
“She’s just one of those students you know is going to go somewhere,” she said.
Sanchez has made some very distinct goals for her life.
“I want to be a probation officer,” she said.
Because the university really doesn’t have a degree tailored to her chosen profession, she spoke to several people in related fields and chose a degree path that would offer her the training required.
“I know that if I can help juveniles that are in trouble, then I can help someone else in a hospital or stuff like that,” she said.
She has spent many hours as a volunteer and talking to others to make sure she will enjoy her work. This also includes her service work.
“In Los Angeles, I did not need to show how much I care for my culture,” she said. “Here there is not much for our culture. We must be united and show that minorities are not what you think of.”