First Ascent Alumni Spotlight: Veronica Aponte

Success is often the result of a series of small steps, each building on the last, as opposed to one big leap. So whenever I think of where I am now, I have to reflect on what got me to this position.

The little immigrant girl who had the drive to make her mother proud and keep education the highest priority even at the ripe age of 5. I remember a 16-year-old Vero who was a student-athlete taking college and honor courses, hoping that one day the late nights would amount to something. To a young 18-year-old who walked into a room with a smiling Victoria Cabal and little awareness of the massive change her life was about to take after interviewing for First Ascent.

Now, I cannot believe it has almost been a year since I graduated. My undergraduate experience was filled with leadership positions across campus I will forever treasure to now sitting on the Alumni Latinx Board, continuing to support my community.

It has been quite a rollercoaster since graduation, and if I can give some advice to the rising seniors, please do not feel as if you need to have it all figured out. The First Ascent experience should teach you that. You don’t have to know everything, but remember to reflect and lean on a community of people that want the best for you. That is the recipe for success and what altered my post-graduate moments.

I had many leadership positions across campus, which I took for more than just the role, but to make change happen and create more inclusive environments that may uplift the communities that truly need it. This has not changed, and knowing my passion for advocacy, it will not stop anytime soon. On top of working side-by-side with my entrepreneurial mother and our business, I now work for Laeona, a local tech start-up working to create more equitable workplaces, starting with fair pay. I am also a co-host of a speaker series I developed highlighting a range of diverse leaders to talk about how we may improve our communities. Check out the series on YT / Linkedin!

While I love my position, I’m excited to share that I will be pursuing an exciting opportunity at Deloitte in New York City with a highly competitive program that will truly advance my career trajectory for years to come. I will be relocating and embarking on another first-time experience. Still, if there is anything that my immigrant story, First Ascent, and first-gen experience have taught me, we can find strength in being the first to do things. I am lucky to be going with two other First Ascent alum who I know will always uplift me and remind me that I am not alone. Your connections are everything!

In college, you will form the relationships that will shape your future. When we rise by lifting others, real change happens. Being a First Ascent Scholar was one of my most important experiences. I had found a place where I belonged and could find confidence in my story. Being someone who believes in representation so much, it was incredible to be surrounded by other scholars who believed in making a difference in the world. Representation is so important, and being a mentor to others experiencing what once a younger me was once facing is a trait I will always hold as a First Ascent Scholar.