When my parents originally moved from Chihuahua to Ciudad Juárez my dad immediately focused on finding a way to provide my sister and I the best education possible in the United States, since with time he learned the best way to ensure a better life was through obtaining a higher education.  My father continues to push me to always seek new ways of learning and to look for new perspectives. 

I come from a family who always encouraged me to pursue a higher education as both my parents did not have the same opportunity. My biggest encouragement during my education journey is my sister, who I watched become the first in my family to attain a bachelor’s and a master’s degree.  

As a first-generation college student, the idea of graduating from college always seemed like an impossible hill to climb, but after graduating high school during a pandemic and receiving a summer internship with the El Paso Times, I knew college was the best route for me. Thanks to The DREAM.US scholarship I was given a full ride scholarship, and can focus on my studies and my work here at The Prospector. 

I discovered journalism when I was a freshman at Montwood high school when I joined my first journalism course because I had a small interest in photography. I later joined the high school’s yearbook staff, my sophomore year.  My small interest stemmed into a passion that has guided me for the past six years. Photography has become my main form of self-expression and artistic expression while conveying emotion and telling the stories of my community.  

At my time here at The Prospector I have served as a contributor, staff photographer and photo editor. This has given me great opportunities to cover a vast majority of events like UTEP’s first ever Texas Western Gold Rush, UTEP’s football team first bowl game since 2014, political issues such as the 2020 presidential election and Texas redistricting, and various performances and events throughout campus. 

As I move into this new position, I want to encourage everyone  to continue engaging in  discussions about controversial subjects and ensure that they are discussed accurately and respectfully. I look forward to continuing speaking with UTEP students and professors about subjects that influence our day-to-day lives. 

We are a student newspaper and I intend on continuing our dedication to the student body and alumni. I encourage students to send letters to the editor and any feedback, as it is greatly encouraged. I plan on increasing the quality of our content and ensuring that students voices are heard.  

I want to thank my mentors who have helped me along my journey including Justin Stene, Mark Lambie, Brianna Sanchez, Tracy Roy, Veronica Gonzalez, Julian Herrera, Anahy Diaz, Bryan Mena, and all the wonderful staff at The Prospector. I would like to thank all of you individually for believing in me and my capabilities as a journalist and as a leader, it is because of your guidance that I am here today.  

Para mi familia, gracias por todo lo que han hecho por mi. Sus sacrificios y el soporte que me han dado son las razones por las que he podido salir adelante.  

I would also like to thank my girlfriend and my close friends for their continued support through this journey.  

Alberto Silva Fernandez can be reached at [email protected]; @albertosilva_f on Twitter