UCDC Student Spotlight: Raquel Lopez Blanco (she/her)
Raquel (she/her) participated in our UCDC program in the Spring of 2024. During her time in UCDC, she interned with the American Bar Association’s Commission on Immigration, where she was able to better understand the immigration process through working directly with detainees. Her experience allowed her to develop her professional skills and future plans.
How will the skills you developed through your internship help you achieve your academic and/or professional goals?
During my time with the ABA, I worked one-on-one with detainees – guiding them through their immigration process, helping them understand their legal procedures, how to find representation and many other essential things for their wellbeing. Since I hope to go into the legal field, this internship prepared me in understanding the realities people endure and how to carry myself in difficult situations. While I was not able to give legal advice (as I am not a lawyer), this internship allowed me to gain a better understanding of the immigration process and connect with real people, at various stages of their story. I grew as a person and as a professional.