Student Profile: Isaiah DeLeon-Mares ’10

Isaiah DeLeon-Mares ’10 came to Yale from St. Louis, Missouri, and is residing in Morse College. Majoring in history and African American studies, Isaiah keeps a busy schedule. Formerly a football player but sidelined because of injuries, he is a student assistant coach for the Bulldogs, and, in addition to pursing a double major, he is working toward his teaching certificate in the Teacher Preparation Program. When asked about his plans for the future, Isaiah smiles. “There are so many opportunities,” he says.

After graduation, Isaiah is considering law school and hopes to one day work for a non-profit. First, however, he is looking forward to more time at Yale. Below, he shares his thoughts about his experience so far and his plans for the year ahead:

I chose to attend Yale because:

A coach came to see me during my sophomore year of high school. So I came to visit campus, and it just felt right. Yale had everything I was looking for academically and athletically, and I knew that I would meet people here that I wouldn’t meet anywhere else. Financial aid was a blessing.

My best class this semester:

David Blight’s Civil War and Reconstruction. It’s really interesting because it’s about rebuilding the nation.

The professor who’s taught me the most:

Elizabeth Alexander. She opened up my need for knowledge, and her presence is just so captivating. Getting to know her and becoming her friend has been phenomenal.

The greatest book I read at Yale:

Long Walk to Freedom by Nelson Mandela. I’m really interested in South Africa, and the book was intriguing as an autobiography and because of the social and political conditions in the country.

My favorite place to study:

I live in Morse, so I study in my room. I am pretty good at keeping the TV off and sitting down at my desk to work.

My preferred extracurricular activity:

Playing football at Yale has been a tremendous opportunity. Unfortunately, I’ve been sidelined because of injuries, but I’ve been able to be a part of the team as a student assistant coach.

I also participate in mentoring initiatives. I am the community outreach coordinator for the Yale Black Men’s Union and the HSF (Hispanic Scholarship Foundation) Amigos mentoring programs. Our mission is to provide a beacon of hope to New Haven high school students and encourage them to choose a future that includes college. We work with teachers, students, and families at Wilbur Cross High School, and there are more than thirty kids involved in activities that impact personal growth and development as well as their school work. It really affects their lives to meet people from similar backgrounds who have achieved. It’s been a great experience, and in a way it’s been a savior to me. It’s inspiring to have people, other than my little brother, looking up to me.

After graduation, I plan to:

There are so many opportunities. I really want to help kids from disadvantaged backgrounds. I’ve thought about getting a Ph.D. and becoming a professor so I can study how neighborhood factors affect kids’ potential, and I’ve also thought about law school. I don’t plan to practice law, but I want to gain the skills necessary to work for a non-profit. At the moment, I’m considering a joint Ph.D./J.D. program.

Something that I’ve learned at Yale that I will never forget:

People are just people. Before I came to Yale I was skeptical, and I wasn’t sure that I would fit in. But I learned that people don’t look down on you because you come from a different background. People want to sit down and have a conversation and learn from you. Meeting people at Yale has helped me embrace that.

(Aug. 18, 2009)