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Intern, HoneyBee Robotics听

As the oldest of four children, Jasmine Fabela Sanchez is in some ways already her own boss. Helping her parents keep house was all part of growing up, alongside being a full-time student, working part-time in high school and even attempting her own eyelash business.

鈥淲hen I got into Leeds, it was a calling鈥攁n affirmation of what I wanted to do,鈥� said Jasmine, a first-generation college student. 鈥淚鈥檝e always been very independent and I know I want to be my own boss someday.鈥�

She鈥檚 still figuring out what form that may take鈥攑erhaps starting an accounting business or brokerage鈥� maybe even getting into real estate鈥攁nd is using her time at Leeds to explore as much as possible.听

鈥淚鈥檓 trying to be as involved as I can,鈥� Jasmine said. 鈥淚鈥檝e met so many incredible people in all these clubs, whether it鈥檚 Women in Business or the Multicultural Business Students Association.鈥� She also is a mentor in the Diverse Scholars Program and is a student assistant for CU鈥檚听Business and Engineering Women in Technology program; this summer, she鈥檒l be working in the finance department at HoneyBee Robotics, where she鈥檒l have opportunities to interact with the spacecraft technology company鈥檚 engineering and accounting teams.听

Testing her limits

The possibilities for exploration have already extended to global travel, through the First-Year Global Experience, which sent her to Barcelona last year; she鈥檚 eagerly anticipating studying abroad in Madrid as a junior. The opportunity to test her boundaries helped bring her to Leeds, along with the sense of values that are part of the curriculum and the culture.听

鈥淐oming to Leeds opened my eyes to a whole new world鈥攂oth how many people go here and how different their backgrounds all are,鈥� she said.听

A North Boulder native, Jasmine originally thought she鈥檇 attend school out of state, 鈥渂ut when COVID hit, I got really close to my family,鈥� she said. 鈥淎nd Leeds turned out to be the perfect fit, especially once I got involved with the EXCEL Scholars Program.鈥�

The EXCEL program, part of Leeds鈥� Office of Diversity Affairs, helps first-year students orient to college life ahead of Leeds Launch. Jasmine said that program, and ODA generally, helped her form a community and be a better student.

鈥淲hen you鈥檙e a first-generation student, you don鈥檛 have someone who鈥檚 been there before who can hold your hand and help you know the deadlines, know how to get financial aid, fill out a FAFSA form,鈥� she said. It鈥檚 why she鈥檚 a regular speaker in AVID鈥擜chievement Via Individual Determination鈥攚hich gives her opportunities to encourage other first-generation students to see the process through.听

鈥淚 hope I can pave the way for my sister and younger brothers, so they鈥檒l have someone to help them,鈥� she said. 鈥淚f I can be that asset, and help them and their friends get degrees that change their lives, that would be awesome.鈥�

More Faces of Leeds听 Undergraduate programs听 Diverse Scholars Program