Maria Lozada Irenes

“YPIE was one of the only places where I felt fully supported, academically and emotionally.” – Maria

• Yonkers High School

• University at Albany (SUNY), Sociology Major, English Minor

• Office Assistant, New York State Attorney General’s Office

• YPIE Mentors: Anne (College Advisor), Jake (Science Research), Raissa (College Success), Laurie (Career Connections mentor)

When did you first join YPIE?

An adviser came into my freshman class and told us about YPIE. At that time, the program was more limited than it is now, but it helped me enormously with chemistry, geometry, trig, and SAT prep. YPIE’s tutoring was invaluable to me.

When YPIE opened the College Zone and offered afterschool activities, I started going regularly. I joined the YPIE Regeneron Science Research program and studied the representation of women in the media from 1990 to the present day. 

I loved going to the CZ two days a week. It gave me stability when my life felt chaotic.

Tell me more about your high school experience.

There were stressful moments during high school. I come from a single-parent, low-income family, and we struggled to buy food and pay rent. My mom, a single parent, insisted we finish school, not quit to work, as many of my classmates did.

Without enough food and sleep, I often fell asleep at school during the day. I was embarrassed to express my struggles. 

But YPIE understood. They helped with little things, like a MetroCard, so I could get from school to YPIE and then home. 

At home, I had to cook our meals and help my working mom, but YPIE was a space where I wasn’t judged for what I didn’t have. I was always told that my efforts to study would lead to success. I didn’t get that support anywhere else. We were allowed to be open about our struggles at YPIE; that brought me great comfort.

How did YPIE assist with the college process?

I turned to YPIE for assistance with every aspect of the college application process, including SAT preparation, college essay writing, financial aid applications, and letters of recommendation.  

How did you make your college decision?

Around the time I was deciding about college, my grandmother, who was only 52, was diagnosed with advanced dementia. I was excited about going to college, but I was so stressed about her. I thought maybe I should take a year off, and work to help support my grandmother.

I ended up going to Westchester Community College, living at home, commuting, and working when I could. I was taking five classes, and during this time my grandmother died.  I failed two classes in my first semester.  

How did YPIE support you during college?

YPIE had just started a new program for college students, and I was assigned Raissa as my advisor. She was a friend, a mother, and a counselor to me. Jake connected me with a therapist, paid for by YPIE, who counseled me to realize I didn’t have to deal with grief alone. 

I lost my financial aid because of my failing grades.  With Raissa’s help, I regained my financial aid and got A’s both semesters, then transferred to SUNY Albany.

Raissa took a personal investment in my success. She would call me, seek me out, guide me, and listen to me. She wrote my recommendation letters and assisted with my application. She never said “No” when I asked for help.

It was a huge transition to live on campus at Albany, but I enjoyed school a little more.  I joined clubs, made friends, and I felt like a college student. 

I stayed in touch with Raissa and Jake for those two years and worked so hard.  I wanted them to be proud of me. I wanted them to know their investment in me wasn’t wasted. Whenever I made the dean’s list or had a big family event, I contacted them.

How did you find your internship and current job?

I really couldn’t afford to get an unpaid internship after school.

After graduating from college, I applied to more than 100 jobs with no good offers.  I was looking for something corporate, sustainable, long-term, that would help me build my administrative skills and pay well.

Through YPIE’s Career Connections program, I was matched with Laurie, an attorney and YPIE volunteer.  Laurie guided me through the entire job search and application process. We met every two weeks.  We reviewed my resume and cover letter and discussed interview techniques.

Laurie is an attorney. My dream is to go to law school, and Laurie said, “We can make that happen.”  

Laurie encouraged me to apply to public and government law offices – town halls, the Senate, Attorney General offices, and District Attorney offices.  I was hired in October at the New York State Attorney General’s Office in Manhattan as an Office Manager and was recently promoted.  

I take three different trains to get to the NYC downtown office, but I have no complaints. And I’m still meeting with Laurie, my friend and adviser. 

Where do you see yourself in the next few years?

At the very least, I want to be in law school in the next four or five years. I feel passionate about immigration law because I’m surrounded by people who are struggling with that issue.

I still help support my mom and have school loans. But I believe I’ll find a way to pay for LSAT classes and then law school.

“I didn’t think I would ever get this far. And now I ask myself, how much farther can I truly go?”

Hear from Maria in this video.