Welcome
Hello, my name is Olivia Vaquera-Guerrero
I was born in Greensboro, North Carolina, and moved to Austin, TX when I was ten. I lived there until I graduated high school and moved to Houston for college. I am now a mom of two sweet cats named Rico and Alena and a sweet dog named Canelo. I enjoy taking walks around the city and trying different coffee shops. I currently hold a personal competition on which coffee shop has the best Dirty Chai. Cougar Grounds at the University of Houston currently holds the title!
I always listen to music and you can find me listening to a tune while going about my day. I also love to cook and love trying new recipes every week. I cook all sorts of cuisines and my personal favorite has always been Mexican food since I grew up eating it. I am not a very good baker just yet but I am determined to learn!
Let's Get Down to Business
Growing up, I had always been encouraged to attend university. As a first-generation student, I knew it was my responsibility to make something of myself. I knew my family and friends surrounded me with love and support. I was regularly an active student in band, jazz band, mariachi, and other school organizations. Once I got accepted into the University of Houston and the Honors College, I knew I had achieved an important goal, but I needed to know what was next.
I entered the University of Houston as a teaching major. I knew I did not want to become a teacher but had limited time to choose another major since I had come to university with an associate's degree I had completed in high school. To be a full-time student, I declared a Leadership Studies minor from the Honors College. That semester I took two courses that led me to choose business: Leadership Theory and Introduction to Organizational and Behavioral Management.
In Leadership Theory, I learned about different leadership types and how to assess people to see their leadership styles. I discovered I was a servant leader, and my favorite leadership type was transformational and situational leadership. After a semester of projects, essays, and assessments, I knew I wanted to continue this learning about the business field. In my Behavioral class, I learned different ways of management. I learned the basics of what people in the business industry did and how everyone worked as a team to make a business grow and succeed. Learning about Bauer and the opportunities of being in business, I switched my major and am now happily majoring in Finance.
No words describe my excitement for my college experience. I have had a fantastic experience being a business student and striving for academic success. I am happy to make my parents proud and am always very thankful for their support. Knowing what is next and having a clear view of what I want to do keeps me motivated and excited to learn and makes me look forward to future opportunities and experiences.
Education
Travis Early College High School
I attended from 2018-2022. I graduated top 25% of my class with a GPA of 3.7. During the four years I spent at this school, I learned a lot about the inequalities that people like me, low-income with immigrant parents, faced in education. I attended a school that did not provide many resources because of the lack of funding. Throughout my four years of high school, my classmates and I watched as schools with different demographics and social classes excelled in extracurriculars such as sports, marching band competitions, and debate tournaments. Since the demographics of my school were primarily Hispanic and African-American, reaching higher education was often seen as a stretch for us. Because of this, I decided to use this topic in research that I talk about HERE.
Those four years taught me how strong I am, how to grow personally, and how much I can accomplish. My high school career shaped me into the woman I am today. I learned to stand up for what I believe in and further my belief in the importance of higher education.
"Once a Rebel, Always a Rebel"
Austin Community College
I attended Austin Community College through a program my high school offered named "Early College''. I started the program when I entered high school in 2018 and completed my associate degree in 2022 with a GPA of 3.1. I became the first person in my household ever to obtain a degree in higher education. My experience in the program prepared me for a four-year institution. I saved a lot of money since the program was free. I gained practice in writing college-level essays, experienced a workload of a college student, and learned the way professors grade and the communication required when struggling or needing help. I gained insight from other college students, and had it not been for the program, I would have had difficulty adjusting to college life during my first year at the University of Houston. I am proud of the 8th grader who applied to the program and was afraid of high school and college. Because of her, I have made my parents proud and created a future for myself.
Riverbats
University of Houston (Honors College)
Bauer College of Business
I have completed my second year at the University of Houston and have had a fantastic experience. I gained more insight into the professional environment by being involved in organizations such as Beta Alpha Psi, Spirit of Houston, Cougar Brass, and HBSA and being an Honors Retreat Counselor. The constant reminder to make connections, put myself out there, and do well academically has become embedded in me. I have learned and practiced different study habits, such as the Pomodoro Technique, and have found apps to help me focus, like Focus Plant, which sets timers when one studies and then grants points once finished. These points are used to grow a garden with different species of plants.
I have learned more about myself personally and have grown so much these past two years. It has not always been easy but I know I can count on myself to push through. I know younger me is very proud at how much I have discovered myself, grown mentally, and pushed through challenges one of my background faces. I know she is proud of me pursuing higher education and having goals and dreams for herself!
I have become involved in the professional world. I have been attending different office networking events through Beta Alpha Psi and have built solid connections. The Spirit of Houston has given me connections with the Alumni Association where plenty of Coogs who were part of the band offer their help to us and there whenever we need them! Hispanics in Business Student Association allowed me to build friendships and acquantances
"Whose House? Coogs House!"
Travis Early College High School
I attended from 2018-2022. I graduated top 25% of my class with a GPA of 3.7. During the four years I spent at this school, I learned a lot about the inequalities that people like me, low-income with immigrant parents, faced in education. I attended a school that did not provide many resources because of the lack of funding. Throughout my four years of high school, my classmates and I watched as schools with different demographics and social classes excelled in extracurriculars such as sports, marching band competitions, and debate tournaments. Since the demographics of my school were primarily Hispanic and African-American, reaching higher education was often seen as a stretch for us. Because of this, I decided to use this topic in research that I talk about HERE.
Those four years taught me how strong I am, how to grow personally, and how much I can accomplish. My high school career shaped me into the woman I am today. I learned to stand up for what I believe in and further my belief in the importance of higher education.
"Once a Rebel, Always a Rebel"
Austin Community College
I attended Austin Community College through a program my high school offered named "Early College''. I started the program when I entered high school in 2018 and completed my associate degree in 2022 with a GPA of 3.1. I became the first person in my household ever to obtain a degree in higher education. My experience in the program prepared me for a four-year institution. I saved a lot of money since the program was free. I gained practice in writing college-level essays, experienced a workload of a college student, and learned the way professors grade and the communication required when struggling or needing help. I gained insight from other college students, and had it not been for the program, I would have had difficulty adjusting to college life during my first year at the University of Houston. I am proud of the 8th grader who applied to the program and was afraid of high school and college. Because of her, I have made my parents proud and created a future for myself.
Riverbats
University of Houston (Honors College)Bauer College of Business
I have completed my second year at the University of Houston and have had a fantastic experience. I gained more insight into the professional environment by being involved in organizations such as Beta Alpha Psi, Spirit of Houston, Cougar Brass, and HBSA and being an Honors Retreat Counselor. The constant reminder to make connections, put myself out there, and do well academically has become embedded in me. I have learned and practiced different study habits, such as the Pomodoro Technique, and have found apps to help me focus, like Focus Plant, which sets timers when one studies and then grants points once finished. These points are used to grow a garden with different species of plants. I have learned more about myself personally and have grown so much these past two years. It has not always been easy but I know I can count on myself to push through. I know younger me is very proud at how much I have discovered myself, grown mentally, and pushed through challenges one of my background faces. I know she is proud of me pursuing higher education and having goals and dreams for herself! I have become involved in the professional world. I have been attending different office networking events through Beta Alpha Psi and have built solid connections. The Spirit of Houston has given me connections with the Alumni Association where plenty of Coogs who were part of the band offer their help to us and there whenever we need them! Hispanics in Business Student Association allowed me to build friendships and acquantances
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Involvement
(Photo of the Trombone Section at the MLK parade 2023)
Spirit of Houston
where I started loving music! I would sing at school concerts and cultural events. I moved to Austin at the age of 11 where I lived until moving to Houston for college. In Austin I joined band in 6th grade playing trombone and have continued that journey
I joined the Spirit of Houston as a trombone player. My first football season was impeccable. I enjoyed playing at the games in the TDECU stadium, games in other places like the Alamo Dome, and our successful bowl game held at Shreveport. I had the opportunity of playing at the Astros Parade after the World Series and the MKL Parade. Spirit of Houston has taught me the importance of group work. Marching shows require time and effort from everyone. The band directors show extreme dedication and are respectful of our time. Accountability, integrity, and respect are something that the Spirit of Houston values a lot, and I have come to appreciate them as well. Learning and practicing music independently during rehearsal as a group requires commitment. During trips, we represent our institution and must always have integrity outside of SOH. We are joining the Big12 next year, and I look forward to the season our sports will be a part of, and Go, Coogs!
(Photo of me with the NCAA trophy at the Women's NCAA Tournament in Fort Worth, TX 2023)
Cougar Brass
I joined Cougar Brass as a Trombone player. We played both women's and men's basketball games. I and a few other band members were chosen to attend the Women's NCAA Basketball Tournament in Fort Worth. During the tournament, I came to appreciate the value and beauty of women's sports. Being a part of cougar brass has been so much fun and has taught me the importance of sportsmanship. Seeing the players from our university and other institutions play passionately, support each other on social media, and treat the band kindly has been beautiful. The interactions of our band with others are also full of sportsmanship. We are all part of a group that has loyalty to their alma mater and supports their team no matter the outcome of the game.
(Photo of me and my big during the Bigs and Littles Opening Event 2023)
Hispanics in Business Student Association
Getting into Bauer College of Business, I wanted to be a part of a group that understood me. I had heard about HBSA from a display table in the dining hall and was instantly excited to join. Joining has brought me into a fantastic community. Sharing the same language and background has shown me that I am not alone in my college career. There are people with the same struggles as me who are willing to share their college experience with me. HBSA has been excellent with presenting scholarship and internship opportunities. They are why I joined the online McKinsey and Company Zoom events. They also have presenters who talk to us about their journey as Hispanics in the field and what they have overcome. People from different companies like Shell and Chevron who are UH Alumni and were a part of HBSA come and talk to us at our general meetings and answer our questions.
HBSA provides Bigs and Littles, which pairs a new member with an existing member. The main point of this program is to make friends within the organization and for the new members to have someone to answer their questions, be their friend, and help them with anything they need. I was a little this year, and my significant was extremely helpful with questions about Accounting I and how to get internships. I plan on being a significant this coming fall and am excited to be able to help the incoming members with courses, insight on the organization, and provide a friend for them.
Involvement
(Photo of Mariachi Rebelde at my dad's birthday party 2022)
Mariachi Rebelde
I have always been proud of my Mexican culture. Spanish was my first language, and mariachi has always been beautiful. Our school had old mariachi uniforms stored in a closet after the program was canceled due to a lack of funding. We had some guitarrones that were broken or missing strings and old and faulty vihuelas. There was a new band director in my senior year, and he wanted to revive the mariachi class. Three friends and I agreed to join the course: two played trumpet, one played vihuela, and I played guitarron.
I did not know how to play guitarron, but my director asked me if I was willing to learn it since I was in the high school band, and I had mentioned to him that I had known music theory with bass as my main instrument. I agreed and learned the instrument in two months until our first performance for the Day of the Dead celebration my school held. After that, we performed at different school events, such as the Dual Language Award Ceremony, band concerts, and our high school graduation. It was amazing to share my culture with others through music. I could work under pressure with limited time to learn a new instrument. This made me confident in taking on new projects and using my knowledge to learn new things.
(Photo of the Symphonic Winds at the Spring Concert 2023)
https://youtube.com/live/TzWvOCeZshg
Symphonic Winds Concert Band
Music has always been a big part of my life. I learned to play guitar, bass, trombone, and trumpet with knowledge from band. I have been in band and played the trombone since the 6th grade. Band brought me friends, an escape from stress, and beautiful memories. Band always made me be held accountable for my grades. If I were to fail a class in middle, or high school, I would not be able to attend band events which were very important to me. I could never imagine not being allowed to attend UIL, a concert, or a band trip because of bad grades.
Reading music exercises creativity in my mind, which I want to continue in college. I volunteered to be part of the concert band and have enjoyed playing beautifully written pieces of music with musicians who sound lovely. Having a music course in my schedule is not something I am just used to doing. I cherish it because of how positively it has impacted my life. In moments of stress, I can take refuge in the beauty of a melody. I learned to pace myself in learning a new piece of music which I have brought into my academics by pacing myself when studying or completing a project. Taking my work and breaking it into chunks to work on is the same as taking a piece of music and breaking it up into chunks. I practice the same way I complete my work; once I have finished learning the piece, I have completed my work.
Honors Retreat Counselor
I will be an Honors Retreat Counselor for the 2023 Honros retreat held during the summer at Camp Allen in Navasota, Texas. The point of the retreat is to get first-year honors students together and create a bonding experience for them. l attended as a freshman, and it was a fantastic opportunity to lose the fear of being in a setting with new people. During the retreat, we met our professors: this made the first day of class go by a lot smoother because I knew what they looked like, how their voice sounded, and a little bit about their background. I made friends during the retreat that I have become fond of throughout the year.
I want to create a safe environment for other incoming honors students. I remember my counselors being very sweet, helpful, and friendly. She bonded with us beyond the retreat by setting up times for us to hang out with her and being flexible to meet with us over any inquiry we had. Being a counselor will help me exercise my leadership and what I have learned from my Leadership Theory and Practice course. Since three counselors are assigned to a group, I can practice teamwork with others. We will plan games for the bus trips, chants for our groups, and small tokens for them to keep. This summer, I will practice my communication, patience, and public speaking skills.
Volunteer Work
DACA Protest Outside the Office of Ken Paxton
(Link to rally outside the Office of Ken Paxton)
Defending the community is essential to me, especially something I experience daily, and I encourage others to protect their community and speak for themselves. As a sophomore in high school, I volunteered to be an MC at a DACA rally in Austin. We marched from our high school to the office of Ken Paxton, where we heard from various speakers and listened to stories of immigrants and family members of immigrants. This is one of my proudest moments.
My parents are Mexican immigrants, and my sister is a DACA recipient. Being the only person in my family born in the U.S., I see how much racism and xenophobia affect everyday life. I know parents of friends that have been deported, friends who experienced microaggressions when attending schools where they are not the predominant race, and the experiences people share on social media. Living in a state that does not fully support immigrants has been frustrating and disappointing. I have always lived around people with migrant parents or migrants themselves. I see how hard they work to afford their living, education, and future. I will always defend the immigrant community because my parents are immigrants; because of them, I know how hard-working they are and their dreams.
Future Work
Undergraduate Research
The Honors College provides a research program called SURF (Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship). My research topic will be how financial inequality in schools affects graduation rates, dropout rates, and rates of students who go into higher education. The economic disparity that schools face is a highly overlooked problem in America. I am still determining where my research will take me, but I have been brainstorming ideas for pie charts, graphs for my statistics, sample sizes, and in what district I will be conducting my research. I plan to do this research in the summer of 2024 or 2025 since I will have taken more accounting and finance courses and will have more understanding of money when looking up school district's finances.
I am looking forward to my future work at the University of Houston and look forward to updating my portfolio.
