From the president
Daniela Valdivia-Terres is an active student leader at Northern Essex Community College. During the Spring 2023 semester, she interned at a Massachusetts government organization called Transformative Development Initiative (TDI.) At TDI her focus was on developing economic growth in gateway cities, specifically interacting with small business owners and assisting them with accessing state support. As a small business entrepreneur, she started a travel agency focused on providing Spanish-speaking guides for the Hispanic community. She volunteered as co-host for a Spanish-speaking radio show and took the lead in producing the show, inviting and interviewing guests from different backgrounds, and helping amplify the immigrant voices of the Latino audience. She also volunteered as a co-host for a Latino TV show on Lawrence Community Access Television. Daniela is a first-generation college student and a Liberal Arts: Journalism and Communication major. She is an excellent student with a near-perfect 3.99 cumulative GPA. Daniela has a strong work ethic and is a persistent and enthusiastic advocate for her community. She leads by example and is a self-starter. After graduation, she plans to transfer to a four-year college to earn a bachelor’s degree. Her goal is to serve the public through investigative journalism.
Personal Statement
I look back at my journey, and I think I learned from adversity how to persevere, and from the limitations of coming from a low-income household how to be resourceful and creative to solve problems, and the importance of hard work. Also, I learned to appreciate small details, simple things in life, values and principles such as family and friendship, and being respectful, empathic, and helpful to others. As an immigrant, an entrepreneur, a mom of an energetic child, and a first-generation college student, I navigated unfamiliar territory when I decided to start my academic journey. Balancing academics, keeping my entrepreneurship as a side job, and family responsibilities was tough, but it taught me resilience and establish priorities and boundaries. I went through ups and downs in life that shaped my character and encouraged me to give back to my community. I have volunteered mainly in my community as a communicator, working as an integration bridge between two cultures living in the same place. I would like to serve the public by being the voice for those who need it most. I would like to share valuable information to create awareness or advocate for justice and equity.