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Hey, my name is Matthew Rios. I've worked at the law school for 25 years. 28 years? If you count my time as a student.

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I received my JD E in 1996 and my of taxation in 2004. And I've been a proud member of Loyola Law School on the student side and the administrative side.

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I identify myself. I'm a Mexican-American student. I was born in California, but I have a proud Mexican heritage for myself and my children.

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My children are Mexican citizens. I am male, cisgender, male, straight. I'm married, been married for 20 years this year, and I'm Catholic, but are and I am staunchly an ally

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for many causes. Being an alum, you Loyola law school student for me was. Influential.

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It was the beginning. It helped me become who I am. It helped shape my professional development. It helped shape me as a person transform, if you

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will, who I am as a person and has opened up exposure to many communities that I consider myself a member of and only add to the richness that that that contributes to the life that I lead and the

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life that I impart to my children. I am a first generation law student. My father graduated from college, but I am a first generation law student and I don't take that lightly.

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I believe it is an obligation that inures to my community. And it is a large community. It is an inclusive community where I try to share

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anyone's ability to achieve what I have achieved, which by sheer numbers is phenomenal because of the percentages, because of the different variations. But I think it helps when I am in front

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of younger children, when I'm in front of folks who feel disenfranchized that they too can be a part of it, can achieve it, and avail themselves of the responsibilities and the privilege that it is to be a lawyer

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in the community. As a student with a particular racial and ethnic gender orientation I experienced. So, look, I can say that in law school, in

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education, in higher education, as a student of color, in a profession, as a profession of color, there have been moments where you aren't accepted. It's a surprise.

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There's the shock and awe that you've achieved these levels. But I can tell you times they are changing. More and more people are accepting and understanding of the achievement that individually you can and I serve to be

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a mentor for those communities. At every point that I can, because I firmly believe that education is a liberating tool that can never be taken away or minimized at and will only help you

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advance your position. Okay, look. Today I want to share pride. I am prideful of being a member of the Loyola

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Law School community. I am a member of its reach. I am a member of its inclusive inclusivity. I am a member of its diversity.

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I am reflective of that diversity and inclusivity. And that only embraces many communities. And I'm just proud to be be part of that. When I was in law school, I was part of

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La Raza law students. And why? While it might have been a part of just a small subset, we had collaborations.

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We supported other organizations, both Appaloosa and LG. Even the Criminal Law Society. Anything that was going to impact the profession as lawyers but impact the community.

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Loyola Law School has an extraordinary commitment to public interest, and that public interest commitment is instilled in each and every student to give back to a community and not just a local community, but a global community to give

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back and advance humankind. And I think that is a noble endeavor. Probably my most memorable experience is on an individual level. It is a memorable experience with each and every individual

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that I encounter along the journey. They enrich the journey. They made it better. They made the experience meaningful and those things to continue

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in the profession. I can contact colleagues that are in practice for advice. I can contact colleagues that are out of practice and just say, Hey, what's going on?

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And in an instance, we will live our connection. Aligned with Loyola Law schools are commonality, but advancing our communities, the global communities beyond that makes me proud. Thank you.