I was raised in a Spanish speaking and agricultural working family with very limited resources. As a student, I struggled because English was my second language and additional school resources were not made available. I strongly believe that if programs such as Communities in Schools were in existence when I was growing up, my school experience would have been much better. I have also witnessed that children who are exposed to positive role models have a higher likelihood to succeed in life. I see Communities in Schools as a valuable resource for the students it serves. It opens the doors to other opportunities, such as higher education and other career pathways that the students otherwise would not have. My hope is that as a Board member, I can use my many personal knowledge and professional experience in the behavioral health field to identify additional resources that CIS staff can share with the students and families they serve.