Congressman Gil Cisneros visits the GW Cisneros Scholars
By: Gabriela Perez Jordan
Gabriela Perez Jordan is a first-year Cisneros Scholar in the GW Columbian College of Arts & Sciences. She is originally from Puerto Rico, but now calls New Orleans home. Gabriela’s views are her own and not necessarily reflective of the Cisneros Institute.
It was 5:00 p.m. on a Tuesday night when Congressman Gil Cisneros came to The George Washington University for a Taco Night with his Scholars. As the Congressman walked in, all the upperclassman confidently stood in unison to greet him, while the freshman nervously decided how to introduce themselves. As we sat down and ate, the Congressman shared his story. While I knew a little about the founding of the Cisneros Hispanic Leadership Institute, I was unaware of the Congressman’s background and personal story.
As I listened to that story, I heard a lot of myself reflected, specifically, our shared commitment to the Latino community, our devotion to education, and our emphasis on family. Our biggest overlap, though, was our mutual love for service. As Representative Cisneros described his commitment to helping others, and his desire to leave a positive legacy, all I could think was, “¡Yo también!”
One of the most memorable instances in his talk, was when he shared a quote by Jackie Robinson that hangs in his office and reads, “A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives.” This resonated with me because there is nothing I find greater joy in than helping others. Hearing Representative Cisneros share what drives him and what he strives to live by inspired me to live up to my own promise and potential.
To me, service is the act of putting others’ needs before your own; it is helping others without expecting anything in return. As a student, I strive to live service through volunteer work in my community and by encouraging those around me to do the same. The Cisneros Hispanic Leadership Institute has not only provided me with a community of people with similar values, but it has inspired me to continue growing and develop ideas for how to serve the greater Hispanic population in the country.
As the event came to an end, we were able to ask Congressman Cisneros a few questions. Since the Cisneros Hispanic Leadership Institute is fairly new, I asked him to share his aspirations for the Institute in the future. The Congressman answered that he would like for the Institute to double in numbers, but more specifically, he would like to see Scholars give back to the Cisneros Hispanic Leadership Institute or other similar institutes once they are successful to help other members of the Latino community advance as well. Listening to Representative Cisneros share his story made me proud and grateful to belong to such an institution. Beyond financial support, the Cisneros Hispanic Leadership Institute has done so much more for me. It has provided me with a community around campus that looks out for my wellbeing and my interests. It has provided me with amazing mentors and peers that have shaped me into who I am today. And it has sparked in me the desire to grow, challenge myself, and most important of all to contribute to my Hispanic community.
