Hello,
My name is Kevin Longoria and I am studying Management Science and Engineering at Stanford University. I was originally born in Texas but moved to California at an early age due to my dad’s job. Let me just tell you, people are not lying when they say Texas is very humid and there are mosquitoes everywhere. I am the son of two Mexican immigrants and have two sisters, one who has graduated college and one barely starting. I currently live in Chula Vista, CA which is inside San Diego county and pretty close to the international border. I can say that across the border you will eat some very good tacos.
My journey to Stanford can be traced back to elementary school. Even though my parents never attended college, they wanted their kids to do so which is why I developed a college mindset early on. Throughout the rest of the school years, I tried to do my best academically to see where I could get. One day I was finally able to visit some top tier colleges in California but at the time, Stanford was definitely very out of reach. In high school, I made sure I participated in many extracurricular activities both in and out of school, including running cross country, very painful times. I eventually was able to work at a research lab one of my summers which I enjoyed since I met many cool individuals from Mexico. I ended up applying to Stanford and to my shocking excitement, was admitted in April 2018. All my hard work definitely paid off and I was so excited to go to school already.
At Stanford, I definitely can say it has been a rollercoaster ride. Not only have I struggled and even failed an exam, but I have been able to find people who I can truly call friends. I came in as a pre medicine student but I was able to explore and eventually decided I wanted to do something finance and business related. This is why I chose the major I intend to pursue and potentially pursue a career in investment banking. At Stanford, I have learned to be more social and to ask for help!! Teachers and TA will help, it is just a matter of asking. On the side, I am actively involved with many student organizations which I am passionate about since they not only increase my network but allow me to meet new people.
This summer I am working for Building Blocks for Kids as I truly find their mission inspiring. It is not only allowing me to continue giving back to the community, but I am able to develop my own soft skills in my efforts to grow the brand. Financial literacy is critical in these times as students are not only missing out on ways to grow their money but at the same time how to properly manage it.