“The only limit to your impact is your imagination and commitment.”
Tony Robbins
According to Juan F. Mascorro-Guerrero, having impact is, “Doing something to help a person or community without expecting a reward in return.” Born in Tepic, Nayarit, Mexico, Mascorro and his family moved to the United States when he was just seven years old. Throughout the years, his passion for creating a lasting impact began to develop as he pursued higher education.
Unable to receive financial aid due to his undocumented DACA status, Mascorro worked hard to put himself through undergrad. “I was hustling, trying to pay everything,” he remembered. Everything included tuition, housing, food and books. Being a first-generation college student, Mascorro attributes a lot of his success to the support of others. “I had mentors that really impacted my life,” he said, “I know that if it wasn’t for them, I would not be here right now.”
Due to their impact in his life, Mascorro hopes to impact other undocumented students navigating higher education. He believes mentorship, support and guidance should be cyclical in nature. In essence, a person who receives these things should inclined to give them to someone else. One’s impact should inspire a chain reaction.
Knowing this, Mascorro impacts his community by continuing to support the educational aspirations of undocumented DACA students. His dedication to impact is why he became the inaugural graduate student advisor for Dream MSU, a registered student organization established to support undocumented students on Michigan State’s campus. “Higher education has a tendency to forget that these students are very wise, smart and have a lot to bring to the table,” he explained, “If we give them a chance and support them, they can really make our world better.”
Mascorro believes before one can truly set out and impact a community, they must first take time to take care of, reflect upon and love themselves. “Figure out what drives you; what are you passionate about?” he said. After, begin to connect yourselves with networks that share the same passions as you. In doing so, Mascorro has furthered his impact by collaborating to develop a network where undocumented students from across the country can gain resources related to attending college.
On Thursday, April 30, 2020, Mascorro received his master’s degree in student affairs administration completely debt free. With this, he would love to continue pursuing the work he has accomplished, but also hopes to one day become a director of a non-profit organization aiding undocumented families. “I hope that no matter what job I get, I am able to impact people’s lives in a positive way,” he concluded.
Mascorro feels everyone has the ability to be successful with a bit of guidance.
He is the face of IMPACT.
This entry is dedicated to Rafael Mascorro and the sacrifices he makes for his family.
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