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Alumni Spotlight: Lara Autrey-Rodriguez, YES Prep Southeast Class of 2005

October 10, 2011 by Tenesha Villanueva

Lara Isabel Autrey-Rodriguez graduated from the YES Prep Southeast campus in 2005.  She attended Yale University where she majored in Spanish and graduated in 2009.  Lara is currently a 3rd year law student at the University of Houston Law Center studying Criminal and Immigration Law. 

Lara on her experience at YES Prep…

What is your favorite YES Prep memory?

I loved our home basketball and volleyball games at Ripley House.  At the time, YES Prep Southeast had no gymnasium or other indoor practice facilities.  As a result, all of our home games were held at the Ripley House and all practices were held in our parking lot. 

Name the teacher/staff member who had the greatest impact on you and why. 

Mrs. Baecht really had an impact on me because she encouraged me to become involved in UIL Literary Criticism and Ready Writing. I was able to travel to Austin, eat at the Hard Rock Café on 6^thstreet, stay in the Omni Hotel and ended up getting 2^ndplace in the State competition for Ready Writing.

 How do you feel YES Prep best ensured you were college-ready?

The Senior Seminar really helped because we had time set apart to focus on personal statements, scholarships, financial aid, and college visits. I especially am thankful for the SAT Prep Course as made a difference in helping me improve my SAT scores. 

Knowing what you know now, what one piece of advice would you give to current YES Prep students?

If you have the opportunity to leave Texas, do it and take full advantage of the new environment they are in for four years. Get to know it in its entirety, meet new people and don’t be afraid. Getting out of one’s comfort zone is the key to self-improvement.

Lara on her college experience…

What was your most difficult experience in college?  How did you overcome it?

My most difficult time was the beginning of freshman year when I decided to walk-on to the Crew team. I would wake up at 5:00am each morning, I had blisters on my hands, I was always tired and I started to get sick from not being properly dressed out on the boat in the freezing weather. To top it all off, I was homesick and taking a physics lab on Science Hill until 5:00pm on a Friday evening.

Going home for Thanksgiving really helped and when I arrived back at Yale, I was determined to make some changes.   I dropped Crew and took on intramural basketball and volleyball, and became involved in Salsa dancing with my one of my dorm mates.  I also decided to change my major from Pre-Med, and instead, focused on Spanish literature; something I actually enjoyed.

What two or three qualities or characteristics within yourself were most important in helping you attain your college degree?

I am very persistent. If I have my mind set on something, I will not give up until I get what I want.  I am also very goal-oriented and organized. I make lists on a daily basis of things that need to be accomplished and I set out to do them without procrastinating.

How did you become involved on your college campus?

I played for Jonathan Edward’s volleyball and basketball teams. I tutored math at Amistad Academy. I formed part of the Yale Reading Corps and tutored students at Dwight Elementary. I was also part of the Yale Latino Sabrosura Dance Team and performed bachata and merengue dances for Yale’s annual cultural show.

What do you consider to be your greatest accomplishment since graduation from college? 

My greatest accomplishment was getting my 3^rdyear trial bar card recently because it acts as my temporary law license until I take the BAR exam in July. The bar card means a lot to me because I will be the first ever lawyer not only in my immediate family but also in my extended family.

Describe your life now.  Where do you work?  What are your hobbies outside of work (if any)?  Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

I am in my last year of law school and I work at Romero and Associates Attorney's at Law firm on Navigation. I attend class two days out of the week, and the remaining three days, I am at the criminal courthouse in downtown Houston.  In my work at the courthouse I am defending the constitution, filing motions, translating and ensuring citizens are not unfairly incarcerated. Apart from working as a criminal defense attorney, I have also worked in family law including assisting with a few divorce proceedings.

Five years from now, I would like to have my name well established within the Houston Latino community as their “go-to” lawyer. I would also like to expand the Romero and Associates Law Firm to include an Immigration Law portion to provide more services to the Latino community. Additionally, I would like to be able to provide legal aid and information to the YES Prep community.

During my leisure time, I lead a Girl Scout Troop at the YES Prep Southeast campus. We meet on Tuesdays and are currently selling nut products and recycling old cell phones and ink cartridges. I also enjoy dancing salsa, merengue and bachata on the weekends, as well as running and playing sports whenever possible.

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