Building bridges in more ways than one.  

Senior Irma Marquez Trapero loves exploring issues of race, culture and diversity. Her majors in political science and gender, women and sexuality studies as well as the organizations she is involved in reflect this commitment.

Irma is in Zeta Chi Phi Sorority and is the co-chair of Building Bridges. Although Building Bridges takes up much of her time this year, she is also involved in I Am, We Are and the Crossroads program.

Part of her commitment to diversity stems from the experiences of her childhood. Irma moved from the city of Culiacan in Sinaloa, Mexico at the age of 9. Adapting to a new country and language presented many challenges.

“It wasn’t a positive thing to acknowledge that I was Mexican,” she said. “I was given a label and it seemed there was nothing I could do to go against it.”

She links her own experience growing up to a broader issue she sees manifested in the U.S.

“I think this country puts a lot of focus on culture and race and white becomes the default,” she said.

She also mentioned the conflicting duality of expected behavior imposed on minority groups.

“People who aren’t white have to go against their stereotypes or go with them,” Irma said.

As she grew older, these experiences began to mingle with an interest in gender issues as well. Irma identifies as bisexual and mentioned the increased pressure when differences in culture and gender intersect.

“Being from another culture, I know that gender can be viewed very differently from one to another. I can’t ignore culture and I can’t ignore gender because they’re both a part of who I am,” she said.

Irma’s life experience definitely played a role in her choice of majors, but it took its own twists and turns. She began on the track for nursing and took all the first-year and sophomore year nursing courses and was even accepted to the nursing program before she decided it wasn’t for her.

“I declined the program and switched my major. I had no idea what I wanted to do when I came in. I love science, but I also love social science,” she said.

Now her idea of her future after graduation has become a bit clearer.

“Ideally, I would want to take a year off from education and explore my options,” Irma said. “In five years, I would want to be working in immigration law or social work.”

She says that since immigration law has had such an impact on her life, it is important to make sure the laws are fair for those who are in her shoes in the future.

“The procedure of coming to the United States is not easy. I think our immigration system is broken,” she said. “Speaking from personal experience, my family has worked with many lawyers and a lot of them cannot be trusted.”

While plans for the future continue to develop for Irma, her biggest concern right now is the upcoming Building Bridges Conference, which focuses on the history and current issues of Native Americans. It was a hard topic for the Building Bridges Committee to choose, because it centers on a specific group of people.

“Throughout the process of organizing the conference, we have been careful not to generalize the Native American community. We have tried to make the conference very respectful and aimed to honor the culture,” she said.

The year that this conference topic falls on is particularly poignant considering it not only marks the sesquicentennial of the College, but also of the largest mass execution in U.S. history, which was of 38 Dakota men in Mankato, Minn.

“This is the perfect year for this conference, because it is all about exploring this history that had never been told to us.”

Irma wants to make clear the conference is not just about history.

“Native Americans are not in the past,” she said. “People need to be aware not only of the issues Native Americans currently face, but also that they make up a very vibrant and integral part of our communities today.”

Irma likes that the conference is not only a learning experience for those who attend, but also for the student volunteers who work on the conference all year.

“I’m very proud of the Building Bridges Committee for doing the work and for exploring things that were often new and potentially uncomfortable,” she said.

Building Bridges has added to Irma’s resumé both professionally and personally, and ending her senior year with the conference seems a fitting capstone to her highly involved college career.

“I’ve loved every organization that I’ve been in throughout college, but being a part of Building Bridges throughout my senior year has been truly life changing. I’ve grown into a better leader because of it and learned so much. I’ll always be thankful and honored that I got the opportunity to be a part of this.”