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May 21, 2007 A transfer student from Texas, Gomez seeks social justice through an organization that raises awareness about child sex-trafficking.
Student profile: Marianna Gomez
Major: Policy analysis and management (PAM) Why did you choose Cornell?
I was attending Texas State University in San Marcos when my brother (Eric Gomez, ILR '06) brought home a Cornell brochure; I stumbled upon the PAM major. It was exactly what I was looking for. Main Cornell extracurricular activity -- why is this important to you?
The first college chapter of Justice for Children International, which works to educate the college community about the global reality of child sex-trafficking and to raise funds for the prevention and aftercare of victims. I serve as treasurer, and I volunteer in club management, organization and fund-raising activities. While at Cornell, what other accomplishments/activities are you most proud of?
In 2005, with the help of a few dear friends, I created REBUILD, a student organization to address disaster relief after Hurricane Katrina. We distribute information about natural disasters around the world, and during 2006 spring break, 16 of us gutted homes and schools and helped to register voters in New Orleans. We hope to work with the Public Service Center to make more trips like this possible. As an orientation leader and orientation supervisor in 2006, I helped incoming transfers, and as a Class of 2007 alumni class correspondent, I contribute to the alumni magazine each semester and participate in outreach, event planning and fund raising. This past year I joined a Cornell Latin dance troupe, Ritmo Caliente. Your most profound turning point while at Cornell?
Getting rejected from Teach for America. It was really heartbreaking, but I decided to stay at Cornell for one more semester to take some interesting courses outside of my major. While I had been very disappointed at the time, I realize that my life is going another direction, and it is okay to not know which way I'm heading. What Cornell memory do you treasure the most?
Seeing Buttermilk Falls for the first time, going on wine tours, volunteering in New Orleans, learning from amazing professors, hunting for the perfect Christmas tree via sled, the Collective Soul concert, skiing for the first time ... the list goes on and on. But I definitely found my happy place here running on campus through the trails and over the gorges; it doesn't get any better than that. What are your plans for next year and beyond?
This summer as a Barbara Jordan Health Policy Scholar I will intern for Congressman Lloyd Doggett (D-Texas), who serves on the House Ways and Means Committee. Then I will get a job in Austin until I join the Peace Corps. Eventually I will go to graduate school for international policy. |
