From an early age, Juan Venancio knew he wanted to go to college.
The Houston native cites his humble upbringing as his source of motivation. His mother and father immigrated to the U.S. from Honduras and Mexico respectively and despite both only having a middle school education, they always stressed the importance of a college education.
“My parents instilled in me the notion that education is valuable; that it’s an asset that would only enrich my life for the better,” he said. “Despite the circumstances and financial struggles, they were always there to support me.”
The 18-year-old knew he wanted to attend college but like most first-generation students, he had no idea where to begin. This changed his sophomore year when he was introduced to EMERGE, an organization that assists high-performing students from underserved communities to attend selective four-year institutions.
With the help of EMERGE, Venancio prepared to apply to his dream school, Harvard under the early action program. He applied in November and within a month he received the news that he had been accepted. Venancio felt ecstatic upon reading his acceptance but once his financial-aid letter came in, he was left speechless. The first-generation student had been awarded a complete full ride.
He recounts his parents feeling happy but a bit hesitant at first. However, once they found out the Ivy League school was offering him a full-ride, they felt completely overjoyed and excited. “My dad got a Harvard sticker for his truck and my mom made a Facebook post about it,” he said.
Despite the incredible offer, Venancio decided to still apply to Stanford and Princeton to give himself other options. He received acceptance letters from both schools but ultimately decided on Harvard as he felt it was a better fit for him.
“Harvard is very worldly and public service oriented. A lot of people come here and leave ready to make an impact in this world,” he said. “I want to surround myself with these people and make an impact together.”
Venancio is now a rising sophomore at Harvard University; a school that many believe to not be a suitable space for minority students. However, Venancio disagrees with this and explains that he has felt a strong sense of community on campus. Particularly, he has developed a powerful bond with his fellow Latinx Harvard students. A bond so great that it has undermined any sentiment of non-belonging.
In just his first year of college, Venancio became highly involved on campus. He joined Harvard’s student government, the Undergraduate Council where he represented the freshmen of Oak Yard. He also worked part-time as a Harvard College Crimson Caller and participated in Citizenship Tutoring at Harvard Kennedy School through the Institute of Politics (IOP). Additionally, Venancio completed a fully-funded internship in Mexico City through Harvard’s David Rockefeller Center for Latin American Studies.
Having had his first year cut short due to COVID-19, Venancio is now eagerly awaiting his return to campus. “I’m excited to get back to campus. I want to do well academically, participate in more programs, and take more risks,” he said.
When asked for advice for aspiring college students, Venancio cites JKF’s “Moon Speech.”
“America chooses to go to the moon not because it is easy but because it is hard. Everything in life can be difficult, especially academics. But that shouldn’t discourage you; it should empower you. See the challenge as a goal, not an impossibility,” he said. “I recognize I have worked my way to where I am now. I like to consider the alumni who have stepped on this campus. I am walking alongside them during different parts of history. I can ultimately make an impact just like theirs and inspire others to do the same.”
Venancio aspires to attend Harvard Law School and work as an immigration attorney in the future.