The path to empowerment

Xochitl Rios’s father left school in fourth grade, coaxing a living out of the soil. Her mother, who had a third-grade education, raised 12 children in their small village in Central Mexico.

Today, Rios (Oakes ’13) is a UC Santa Cruz student majoring in chemistry with plans to go to graduate school. A U.S. citizen now, she wants to work in pharmaceutical research.

When she won a Karl S. Pister Leadership Opportunity Award, she knew she was taking the next step toward a career.

“That scholarship meant everything to me,” she said.

Rios came to the U.S. at 15 and enrolled in high school. But the death of her father forced her into full-time work to help support her family. Then, two things happened.

The first event was fortunate. She got a green card.

The second was tragic. Her favorite sister, Lucy, was diagnosed with liver cancer and given six months to live.

“I didn’t have any money to help her,” said Rios. “I didn’t have any knowledge. I promised myself I that would go back to school and, if anyone else in my family had an emergency, I would be able to contribute with science, with knowledge, and with money.”