CHCI-Toyota Intern
Hometown: Ellicott City, Maryland
School: Carnegie Mellon University
Major: English, Hispanic Studies
Placement: The Office of Rep. Harley Rouda
Maija was born in New York and raised with her two younger sisters in Ellicott City, Maryland. Growing up in schools with very few Latino students, Maija has had to learn for herself to take pride in her Ecuadorian heritage. She is exceedingly grateful for the sacrifices all the members of her family have made that have given her incredible opportunities and have led Maija to where she is today.
Maija will be graduating from Carnegie Mellon University in May of 2020 with a double major in English and Hispanic Studies. She is a National Hispanic Recognition Program Scholar and maintains her position on the CMU Dietrich College Dean’s List with High Honors. Maija has spent the last two summers working for the Howard County Public School System as a Special Education Paraeducator. Currently, Maija mentors a student in Pittsburgh Public Schools, focusing on intentional decision-making and literate practices.
After graduating, Maija plans to attend graduate school to pursue an EdD in Education Policy. She believes that the academics she is currently participating in and the higher education she wishes to attain are preparing her for a career in serving underrepresented communities in the United States. Ultimately, Maija plans to work on influencing education policy at the state or federal level.
As a CHCI intern, Maija is excited to gain first-hand insight into the policy-making process. She hopes to gain knowledge to help her understand the best ways to advocate for Latino students and the Latino community as a whole.