Student Trustee Represents MCC in Visit to Washington D.C.

Sarah Alzate-Pérez, from Bogotá, Colombia and now living in Lowell, is the 2023-2024 Middlesex Community College Student Trustee. The Criminal and Social Justice major had the opportunity to visit Washington D.C. in February 2024 with MCC President Phil Sisson and Vice President of Administration Patrick Cook. During the trip, she toured historic sites and met with legislators to share her academic and personal story. The following is her experience in Washington D.C. in her own words.

My experience in Washington D.C. was undoubtedly unique and something I will never forget. That was my first time in Washington and thanks to the opportunity that MCC gave me, I fell deeply in love with the city, its historical icons, its social dynamics, and the things it has to offer. I had a great time, walked a lot, ate great food, and learned a lot from the people at the conference. The trip to D.C. was phenomenal and a very enriching experience both personally and academcally.

A highlight of my D.C. experience was having the opportunity to meet and connect with some of the 120 other students who attended the national conference as student trustees or Student Government Association (SGA) presidents. Having the opportunity to hear about their leadership work and their community represents a lot of learning, motivation and inspiration.

"My experience in Washington D.C. was undoubtedly unique and something I will never forget. That was my first time in Washington and thanks to the opportunity that MCC gave me, I fell deeply in love with the city, its historical icons, its social dynamics, and the things it has to offer. -  Sarah Alzate-Pérez, MCC Student"

Being fortunate to have been able to see the U.S. Capitol, have a private tour, and share my leadership role and activist voice with Senator Elizabeth Warren and our brilliant Congresswoman Lori Trahan was also one of my favorite parts. Not only was it an enriching experience to my interest in my role as a student leader, but it was also an inspiration to me. Thanks to this, I am more than sure that I want to dedicate my life to legislative work and politics. D.C. led me to strongly establish that - someday - my name will be on an office in the Capitol.

Sharing my story with senators and congress members not only means for me to share the story of my community and my people, but it also means giving visibility to issues, situations and stories that are often silenced, forgotten or not even acknowledged. For me, it was an honor to be able to raise my voice, to share the reality of why people are asking for change. By sharing my story, I give a face to the story of many others, and I think that's the most important thing.

On this trip, I discovered a lot about myself that I may have never noticed before. I learned how to navigate an airport on my own, and to take a deep breath before boarding the plane. I learned that all around us there are different worlds and things that we are passionate about and that enrich us in different ways. I learned that education is not only one of the most important things we can try to bring to our society without limitations, but that it is truly one of the things I am most passionate about, and that serving and listening to people is another thing I want to dedicate my life to.

I learned that there is much work to be done to make sure that everyone has access to resources and that we must continue to fight and make room for ourselves to be heard and considered in the biggest decisions. There is much to be done to make sure that America is a place where all histories and worlds have a place of participation and safety, a place that we can all call home.

I would like to share the gratitude I have with MCC, President Phil Sisson, Patrick Cook, and all the people who made it possible for me to have this experience in Washington D.C. For the tours, the delicious food, the private visits to the capitol, and for empowering my voice, my future and my dreams through their work.