Intro Spotlight - Tania Ramirez
Tell us a little bit about yourself.
I am a San Diego native and first-generation Latina currently pursuing my J.D at
California Western School of Law, with a strong interest in public policy and
community advocacy. I recently graduated from UCLA, where I earned a B.S. in
Chemistry and minored in Global Studies.
I also take pride in staying connected to my Mexican roots. My family is from Jalisco,
and I value traditions and experiences that keep me grounded in my culture.
Whether that’s attending jaripeos, spending time with family, or celebrating
community events, those connections are an important part of who I am.
In my free time, I enjoy exploring new coffee shops, going on scenic walks, and
trying different food spots around the city. I’m always looking for ways to stay
connected to my community while continuing to learn and grow.
How did you become interested in Circulate San Diego?
I’ve always been passionate about public interest and advocacy, a value that
started at a young age. Growing up, I often joined my mom at labor union protests,
where I was first exposed to the power of collective action and the importance of
fighting for equitable treatment. That early experience stayed with me and
continued to shape my interests over time. In undergrad, I further explored this passion by getting involved in student government roles that focused on legislative advocacy, where I worked on initiatives aimed at representing and supporting the student body. Those experiences helped me better understand how policy can be used as a tool to
create meaningful change. Now, as I pursue my law degree, I’ve been looking for opportunities to directly connect my legal education with policy work. Circulate stood out as the perfect place to do that. Its focus on transportation, sustainability, and equity aligns with both my personal values and my desire to contribute to impactful policy work in the community I call home.
What’s your most memorable face palm moment? Or what is your biggest
achievement to date? Choose one.
My biggest achievement to date is earning my Bachelor of Science in Chemistry
from UCLA as a first-generation Latina. Higher education was not an opportunity my
ancestors had access to, so completing my degree felt like a meaningful milestone
not just for me, but for my family and lineage. It represents both personal
accomplishment and generational progress.
Chemistry is a challenging field that pushed me to develop discipline, resilience,
and strong problem-solving skills. There were moments when the path felt difficult,
but persisting through those challenges made the achievement even more
rewarding. This experience gave me confidence in my ability to succeed in
demanding environments and reinforced the importance of perseverance.
If you could choose anyone, who would you pick as your mentor?
If I could choose anyone as my mentor, I would choose Salma Hayek. I admire how
she has built a powerful and enduring career while advocating for greater
representation of Latina women in the media industry. Beyond her success as an
actress, she has taken on leadership roles as a producer, creating opportunities for
more diverse stories to be told. What I find especially inspiring is her ability to balance strength, authenticity, and cultural pride. She has remained grounded in her identity while navigating spaces that have not always been inclusive. As a first-generation Latina pursuing a career in law and policy, I would value learning from her example of using influence and leadership to create opportunities for others while staying true to one’s roots.
