Chabelli Mendoza
Criminology and Human Relations
From Broken Bow, Oklahoma
The feeling of belonging is vital to a student’s success at any university. I hope I taught my classmates the power of making others feel like they belong because I knew if it weren’t for the people who did that for me, I would not be where I am today.
When Chabelli Mendoza arrived at the University of Oklahoma in 2022, her freshman class was larger than the total population of her rural hometown, Broken Bow, Oklahoma. Upon that realization, she questioned if she had made the right decision.
Back home, it wasn’t unusual for Chabelli to run into someone she knew in a local grocery store or restaurant. Her high school cohort was made up of classmates she met in pre-K. She felt homesick for the life she knew as a high school student until she took full advantage of OU's resources and support systems — like OU’s 500+ student organizations.
“I was so scared that I made the wrong choice, but the people I met on campus life made OU feel like home,” Chabelli said. “They became my second family when my real family could not be here with me.”
Like 27.1% of OU’s student population, Chabelli is a first-generation student — meaning she’s the first in her family to pursue a four-year degree.
Being a first-generation student has made me value the opportunity I get to pursue higher education, especially in the United States,” Chabelli said. “My parents immigrated to the United States almost 30 years ago. They are the reason I have the privilege to be at this university. To me, being a first-generation student means making their American dream a reality.
In Chabelli’s first semester, she joined Sigma Lambda Gamma, a sorority that belongs to OU’s Multicultural Greek Council, and was introduced to classmates who became a stabilizing presence in her undergraduate journey.
“I joined women who showed me what it meant to be empowered by others,” Chabelli said. “Being surrounded by people who understood my experiences helped me find a sense of belonging.”
She went on to join Latinos Without Borders, a student-led organization that connects high school students to college resources, after one of her student-mentors invited her to volunteer for an event. Eventually, she would become the chair of the organization.
Our mission is to break through and build futures,” Chabelli said. “We do this through signature events that bring students to OU’s campus. It’s been the most fulfilling organization I have been part of. I navigated the college admissions process alone, and I saw the barriers that existed for others. I knew that although I lacked those resources, I wanted to change the narrative for future students.
Chabelli’s OU story eventually grew past the University’s main campus in Norman, Oklahoma. Soon, she left the country to study abroad in Italy with the President’s Leadership Class and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, with the OU Department of Human Relations.
“Both were incredible but Brazil was one of the most impactful experiences I have ever had,” Chabelli said. “We worked with a nonprofit after-school program for kids who live in very high poverty places. We took them to the beach, bought them supplies and food, and took them and their families to a really nice dinner. It reminded me how privileged I am to lead the life I do and to give back to others whenever I can.”
As part of that reminder, Chabelli plans to attend law school in August, where she hopes to one day specialize in immigration law.
“The immigrant community has shaped my life experience, so I want to pour back into them,” Chabelli said.
While she is excited at the prospect of earning her Juris Doctor, she is grateful that she pushed past the feelings of Imposter Syndrome — a phenomenon that affects many college students, including first-generation college students — and remained part of the OU Family.
“From the outside, OU can seem intimidating if you’re someone like me who comes from a small town,” Chabelli said. “OU genuinely cares for its students. If I could go back, I would choose this place over and over again.”
In her sophomore year of college, Chabelli was invited to share her experience as a first-generation student at the University of Oklahoma. Watch her video and discover how she found her place of belongining on campus.
