Michelle Carrillo

Leading by Action: How Michelle Carrillo Became an Advocate at CWU

Like many high school graduates in 2021, Michelle Carrillo faced an uncertain path to college.

Although she knew she wanted to pursue higher education, the COVID-19 pandemic caused her to reconsider her plans. Michelle decided to take a gap year to work and save for college so she could dedicate her time and energy to her studies once enrolled. However, her parents, concerned about Michelle losing momentum, encouraged her to apply instead of delaying her college education. 

At that point, Michelle had already missed the admission deadlines for her initial choices. She then set her sights on Central Washington University (CWU), which she’d heard about in her high school AVID club. Taking a chance, she sent in her application.

Good news arrived a few weeks later. "My parents were the first ones to check the mail," Michelle says. "They saw the envelope with 'Welcome, future Wildcat!' and came home, saying, 'Oh, my God, you applied to college!'" 

Supported by her family, Michelle raised money for her education and moved to CWU's Ellensburg campus, taking an exciting step toward a purpose-filled future.

Navigating College Life as a First-Generation Student

As a first-generation student, Michelle’s transition to Central took some time. Living hours away from home and her family and having few ties to CWU campus life left her feeling disconnected and considering transferring to another school.

“I would just go to my class and then go back to my dorm. I was so shy, I didn't realize all the greatness around me. I was just really in my bubble.”

But one professor’s invitation changed everything. In her sophomore year as a law and justice major, Michelle enrolled in a series of introductory law classes, one of which was with Professor Robert Claridge, who is also the advisor for CWU’s Mock Trial Club.        

Professor Claridge’s efforts to recruit students for Mock Trial piqued Michelle’s interest. After class, she talked with him, and he gave Michelle a warm invitation with all the necessary details. 

“I went to the meeting, but I didn't go inside the classroom,” Michelle explains. “They had the door a bit open, and so I was just kind of peeking in. I was just hearing all the students. They were already saying, 'Hearsay, your honor, that's hearsay.'"

The next day in class, Professor Claridge approached Michelle and asked why she hadn’t come to the Mock Trial meeting. After she explained that she had gone but hadn’t gone inside, Professor Claridge encouraged her to join, telling her the Mock Trial club needed her, regardless of her level of experience. 

“I will forever be grateful for Professor Claridge,” Michelle says. Through the Mock Trial club, Michelle met her friend, who was the director of governmental affairs and connected her to CWU’s Student Government. She also made another friend who helped her get her job working the information desk at Campus Activities, where she started leading student events and building her community. 

As Michelle’s experience demonstrates, the path to belonging often starts with one small step of trying something new.

How Student Lobby Day Inspired Michelle’s Political Science Major 

With the long-term goal of becoming an immigration attorney, Michelle always knew she wanted to major in law. Her journey to picking up a second major in political science and finding her voice began with attending Lobby Day. Friends from the ASCWU Student Government invited her to Lobby Day, an annual event when Central students travel to the Washington State Capitol to advocate for issues and legislation. 

At first, she wasn’t too excited about the idea, but her perspective shifted when they framed it as a free trip to Olympia.

"Oh my God, that's my hometown—free food, free transportation,” Michelle thought. “I was even planning to sneak out and visit my parents.” But as she sat in the Washington State Capitol building, listening to her classmates share their stories, Michelle learned how legislation on higher education translates into real-world impact and how it has influenced her college journey. 

“I'm one of those students who receives the Washington College Grant. The reason there is financial aid [for the grant] is because there are students who stepped up and said, 'We need financial aid to go to college.’ And so that was really cool to me to see that students could do that, and that students had that amount of power and privilege.” 

This was Michelle's turning point—the initial spark that ignited her involvement with student government and her passion for policy. Along with becoming ASCWU’s director of governmental affairs, she also works as a student lobbyist for the Washington Student Association. She has traveled to the Capitol twice to share her story and gain experience advocating for herself and her peers. 

Turning Cultural Connections into Advocacy

Michelle’s story illustrates how getting involved in campus life builds a network of connections and opens up exciting opportunities. 

The next step in her journey began when a coworker from Campus Activities introduced Michelle to Movimiento Estudiantil Chicana/o de Aztlán (MEChA), the national coalition dedicated to Chicano student empowerment. As a first-generation Mexican-American seeking cultural connection, Michelle found a safe place in MEChA. "I felt so welcomed. I really liked the vibe that was going on, and I found my community there.”

Through MeCHA, Michelle learned about Apoyo, a food bank serving the Ellensburg community. In addition to food distribution on Wednesdays and Saturdays, Apoyo offers a range of other services, several of which Michelle has helped orchestrate.         

And in her role as director of governmental affairs, Michelle helps administer community activities. Her work includes the recent creation of the Youth Empowerment Program, now a branch of Apoyo. She explains, "We help students be civically engaged, mentor high school students, and more.”

Michelle demonstrates that as a CWU student, you don’t have to wait until after graduation to create lasting change in your community. Instead, when you decide to become a participant, you have the power to impact those around you. 

Michelle’s Advice for Future Wildcats

Are you considering Central Washington University as your next step? Michelle has some advice for you:

“Just be involved. There are a lot of clubs here, there are so many students, and you will find your people. It may take a minute, but they’re there.”

Whether you want to pursue law and political science like Michelle or a career in a field like computer science, you can choose from more than 135 majors designed to hone your skills, give you hands-on experience, and inspire you to make a difference in the world. 

Ready to discover your purpose at CWU? Explore our admissions pathways to chart your course to Central Washington University.