“This internship really guided me to seek more opportunities here at Brown,” Leonardo says, “and to dedicate myself to further investigating the complexity of government activities in areas like economics and immigration.”

For Leonardo, immigration isn’t just a hot-button political topic; it’s personal. His father came to the United States as a refugee, fleeing political turmoil in Iran. His mother came from Mexico. After his father became a citizen, he married Leonardo’s mother, and the couple settled in Texas.

“It brings me a sense of pride that I come from two parents who have suffered and sacrificed a lot for my sister and me to excel in an academic environment with better opportunities,” Leonardo says. “It also motivates me to excel in school, achieve socioeconomic mobility and break the cycle of poverty.”

It’s this highly personal motivation and the support of key Brown mentors that inspire Leonardo to continue exploring a passion for issues affecting immigrant communities. He is voicing his ideas and opinions on this topic, and more, as the World Section staff writer for Brown's Political Review, an editor and writer for the Intercollegiate Finance Journal and an editor for the Brown University Journal of Politics, Philosophy and Economics.

 Leonardo is focused and driven, but he’s quick to credit those who have helped him navigate his Brown experience, like Julio Reyes, program director for the U-FLi Center. Leonardo is a U-FLi scholar and a strong proponent of the center, where he’s connected with people who have similar backgrounds and experiences.

“The center gives me a place to study, a place to explore and meet new people and, most importantly, a place that provides mentorship,” he says. “It’s one thing to read and be aware of the resources at Brown; it’s another to have a mentor like Julio guide you on how to best utilize them for your personal goals. I have the work ethic and discipline. The last thing I needed and got, was mentorship.”