{"id":539,"date":"2026-09-24T17:40:07","date_gmt":"2026-09-24T17:40:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/eportfolio.siue.edu\/alejandra-beltran\/?page_id=539"},"modified":"2026-10-21T21:15:49","modified_gmt":"2026-10-21T21:15:49","slug":"my-story","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/eportfolio.siue.edu\/alejandra-beltran\/my-story\/","title":{"rendered":"My Story"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Big Dreams.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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I was born in Louisville, Colorado, but grew up in Camargo, Chihuahua, Mexico. As a child, I often imagined what it would be like to study in the United States and experience the places and moments I saw in the shows I watched. Beneath those daydreams, I carried a feeling I couldn\u2019t quite explain: that there was something for me here, even if I didn\u2019t yet know what it was.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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First Steps.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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At 16, during the COVID pandemic, I started my first business making pastries. What began as a small venture gave me an early experience in turning an idea into something real. By 17, I had grown the business into my main source of income and was using what I earned to help fund my dream of moving to the United States. It taught me to take initiative, work with what I had, and follow through on a goal. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Those lessons helped me see that moving to the U.S. could be something I actively planned for, not just hoped for. That\u2019s where my motto began: I work hard to turn my dreams into plans, and my plans into reality.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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The Leap.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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In December 2021, I moved to the United States to conclude my High school. Adjusting to a new country and school came with challenges, but I also found a supportive community. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The faculty and staff at my high school took the time to get to know me and became an important source of encouragement. The relationships I built there would later help me find a way to continue my education.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Found Family.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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In October 2022, unforeseen circumstances meant I had to Return to mexico. In January 2023, I came back by bus with five heavy suitcases and a heart full of hope.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When I returned to continue my studies, people I had met at school helped connect me with a family who welcomed me into their home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That experience showed me the power of being myself and building genuine connections. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Moving Forward.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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In January 2023, I returned to the United States by bus from Camargo to Kansas City with five heavy suitcases and a heart full of hope. When I arrived, I began living with a family who opened their home to me. What began as a place to live became something much deeper: they became a key part of my life and another set of parents to me. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Leaving Mexico and starting again and learning a new language wasn\u2019t easy, but I was determined to keep moving toward the future I wanted.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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New Doors.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Applying to SIUE\u2019s CODES program became an important next step. I spent weeks developing a presentation that would show my experiences, goals, and reasons for wanting to join the program. When I was accepted and offered full tuition, I felt the significance of the opportunity: the work I had put into my education had opened a path forward. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

CODES became more than a way to attend college; it gave me the chance to take part in research, community work, and projects that connected what I was learning with the world around me.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Growing Stronger.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Shortly before beginning college, I started going to the gym. At first, it was simply a new routine, but it gradually became an important part of my life. Training taught me patience and consistency, and helped me build confidence in what I could accomplish over time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It became one of the ways I learned to challenge myself and follow through, even when progress was gradual.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Stepping Up.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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At SIUE, I\u2019m pursuing a degree in Political Science with minors in Pre-Law and Spanish. Moving between languages and cultures has shaped how I communicate and connect with people, while my studies have encouraged me to ask questions and consider issues from different perspectives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the SIUE Foundation\u2019s Engagement Center, I\u2019ve grown from an ambassador to a supervisor and then Fulfillment Coordinator. I personally raised more than $10,000 and trained and supported around 100 student callers. These roles have taught me about communication, organization, and leadership. To me, leadership means taking initiative while helping others feel prepared to do their best work.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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What\u2019s Next.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Running and endurance events have become another way for me to test what I\u2019m capable of and these experiences reinforced the value of preparation and persistence to me and i’m looking to keep improving on them. The progress I\u2019ve made in training has reminded me that meaningful goals are reached through consistent effort, and that lesson applies just as much to school and work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Each of my experiences has shaped how I move forward. I carry with me the initiative I learned from starting a business, the support of the people who became family, and the confidence I\u2019ve gained through education, leadership, and training. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019m looking for opportunities to start my professional career and I know I\u2019ll meet this next chapter of my life with the same willingness to make a plan, put in the work, and make it a reality.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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