In this first-person narrative, Melina Duarte, undergraduate student in the College of Liberal Arts and president of the Latino Pre-Law Association, tells Nevada Today about her experience at the University of Nevada, Reno and how the association helped her find belonging.

Education has always felt like both a privilege and a responsibility to me. My grandfather, who is one of the most intelligent people that I have ever known, grew up in Mexico with dreams of studying at a university and becoming an engineer. Due to financial constraints, he was left with no choice but to leave school and work small jobs to support his family. He later immigrated to the United States for a better life. Today, he works for Waste Management, and I occasionally see him driving the trucks on my commute to school. I always wave to him, and in those brief moments, I'm reminded of the sacrifices he made so that I could have opportunities he did not.

I was fortunate to grow up with parents who never made me feel that any dream was beyond reach. At the same time, I saw firsthand the challenges my family experienced because of their immigration status, including constant fear and uncertainty, limits on what was possible, and the strength it took to manage it all. Those experiences shaped my interest in law and my desire to help others navigate the kinds of obstacles my family has faced. With this, I decided I would major in criminal justice, within the College of Liberal Arts, specializing in law and justice.

When I initially arrived at University of Nevada, Reno, however, I struggled with imposter syndrome. I questioned whether I really belonged in situations where not many were like me or came from where I come from. Joining the Latino Pre-Law Association changed that. 

With the club, I was able to be a part of incredible things, like volunteer work and mentorship initiatives, that helped me understand that I did belong here. One of the most unforgettable experiences I had was participating in the Nevada Future Lawyers Program, where I attended a panel of lawyers who came from the same background that I did and even observed a court homicide trial. I met Alex Guerrero-Torres at that time, when he was president of La Voz (Latino Law Student Association at William Boyd School of Law). His commitment to empowering others and the way he positively impacted his community challenged me to pursue leadership myself. Witnessing the way a single person's position could influence and bring aid to a whole group of students encouraged me to campaign for president of the University of Nevada, Reno’s Latino Pre-Law Association.

As president, I vowed to do whatever I could to help the club and its members succeed. For the next two semesters, we’re going to host LSAT (Law School Admission Test) study groups and classes taught by our faculty advisor, College of Liberal Arts’ Professor of philosophy, Ravi Thakral, Ph.D. The Law School Admission Test may be intimidating for most students, and my desire with this group is to alleviate some of that anxiety, particularly for minority and first-generation students who might not have the same resources as others in getting ready for law school. Professor Thakral emphasized this mission, stating, “I am proud to work with the talented students of the Latino Pre-Law Association. A careful study of logical reasoning gives students invaluable ways to uncover their latent mental powers – it sharpens minds, builds lasting confidence and improves LSAT results - advancing a core goal of the philosophy department at University of Nevada, Reno.”

We will also invite guest speakers from all over the legal community, giving students an opportunity to hear about their own experiences and have a chance to ask questions one-on-one. Our club will again work with UNLV’s La Voz and Boyd School of Law, where students gain valuable information through meaningful, one-on-one discussions with lawyers from the local community. We also initiated a new volunteer partnership this year with Northern Nevada Legal Aid, as helping others is one of the core values we uphold in giving back to society.

The Latino Pre-Law Association invites all University of Nevada, Reno students interested in going to law school or working in the legal profession to join us. Our aim is to offer advice, mentorship and real-world experience that can assist them in succeeding. To me, this association is not just a club, it is a support group, a network of like-minded individuals and a reminder that no dream is unattainable.

For inquires and interest in this assoication please email unrlatinoprelaw@gmail.com.