In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, we interviewed Pedro Cuellar, 3L, for this special Student Spotlight. Join us as we learn about his journey and experience at STCL Houston.
Tell us a bit about yourself.
My name is Pedro Cuellar, and my expected graduation date is May 2024. I am from Harlingen, Texas, in the Rio Grande Valley. I graduated from the University of Texas at Austin in 2016 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in government.
I currently serve as president of the Hispanic Law Students Association (HLSA) at South Texas College of Law Houston. I also serve as the director of alumni relations for the National Latino/a Law Students Association (NLLSA). Additionally, I compete in a soccer league with my friends from the law school.
Why did you choose to attend law school – and particularly, why South Texas College of Law Houston?
Though many reasons led me to pursue a career in law, the overwhelming reason was my time at the Pro Bono Asylum Representation Project of South Texas (ProBAR). There, I helped detained, unaccompanied children obtain legal relief to stay in the United States. In essence, I learned to be an advocate for one of the most vulnerable populations in this country.
I chose South Texas College of Law Houston because of its location, the people, and the competitive and collaborative community. I wanted to be in Houston and enjoy a bigger city life, but what pushed me to come to South Texas were the conversations I had with students. There was a constant feeling of support; I felt the school and its community would be there for me and help me succeed. It makes me happy to be able to write that it has been and will continue to be. That is what makes this school special.
What is your vision for your role as incoming president of the Hispanic Law Students Association?
The vision is simple: to continue fostering a supportive community. During my law school orientation, we were told to look left and right. We were told that one of us would not succeed and would not graduate. The vision is to ensure that when we look left and right, we help each other succeed — that we make ourselves available to everyone around us. I’ve been told many times that it takes a village to succeed, and I want to help create that village for our students.
What achievements or activities are you most proud of during your time at South Texas? Why?
I am proud of having been a part of two HLSA executive boards that put on events for our student community here at South Texas Law. I have had the ability and privilege to bring in attorneys and judges to come speak to our students. These events highlight that what matters most is helping our students achieve success.
I’ve also had the opportunity to do this at the national level. During my 2L year, I was a Mountain Regional Director for the NLLSA, and I put in the work to win a bid from Sturm College of Law in Denver, Colorado, to host the 26th annual national NLLSA Conference. The conference featured law students from across the United States. Law students competed in a Moot Court competition, networked with the legal community, attended panels, and celebrated Latinx culture.
Being president of HLSA is a great privilege and joy. I would like everyone to know that we, the HLSA executive board, will continue to do our best to serve our students.
How does having a diverse student population enhance the legal education at South Texas?
Diversity is core to having a competitive and collaborative community. Diversity allows for various points of view that can be attributed to culture and heritage. Normalizing that all people and points of view are welcome enhances our community’s intellect. Diversity is not about being tolerant; rather, it is welcoming the idea of empowering students to be better. Diversity also reminds our students they are not isolated but supported.
Also, normalizing a community that is all inclusive and representative of all people gives young people hope. I like to think this idea of hope will eventually turn into confidence — confidence that comes from seeing people who look like you do the things you have dreamed of doing.
In short, diversity enhances the school intellect, empowers our students, and helps shape future generations.
What are your plans after graduation?
Although it is not certain, I see myself in litigation, and most likely personal injury. I envision myself having my own practice in the future.
Tell us a bit about your family and background outside law school.
I was born and raised in Harlingen, a city within an area commonly known as the Rio Grande Valley (RGV). I am also child number three of four. My parents are from Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico, a border town across from Brownsville. My dad was born and raised in Mexico and went to university at el Tecnologico de Monterrey, in Monterrey, Nuevo Leon. My mom, although raised in Mexico, went to school in the United States. She crossed the border every time she went to school. I think what is so unique about the RGV is our bicultural identity — a place rich in Mexican culture and American culture.
I grew up speaking Spanish and crossing the border at least once a week to go see my grandparents. I wasn’t the only one; so many people did that. Crossing was a normal activity, and it was that blend of cultures that created the RGV.
One way to describe my family is to describe a typical Sunday. Sundays were for mass, family, and the Dallas Cowboys. I would wake up to the sounds of my mom going “Pedro, misa!” which translates to “Pedro, mass!”
After mass, we headed to Matamoros or Brownsville, depending on who hosted. There would be carne asada, beer, football — and almost every family member, about 50! It was a big party. The Dallas Cowboys were always on the TV. It can be a great challenge to name a more dynamic duo than the RGV and the Dallas Cowboys.
Regardless of what had happened leading up to Sunday, we always tried to be together and celebrate the family. That’s a tradition that will carry on with me forever.
What does the recognition of Hispanic Heritage Month mean to you?
To me, recognizing people, my people, is a sign that the school respects us. It’s a sign that we are a welcome people who add to the school’s honors and intellect. Most importantly, it brings together a community.
For me, I think progress is a people moving toward a goal. Of course, there are many goals we want to achieve, but recognition is step one. I am proud to say I attend South Texas College of Law Houston, and that the school has continued its commitment to diversity. We know this by The Benny Agosto Jr. Diversity Center at the school. However, we must not stop there. We must continue to recognize our community — and by that, I mean all people who attend STCL Houston.
What impact does the presence of Hispanic Americans have in law schools and legal offices?
The presence of diversity in the legal community, whether it be in schools or in the profession, means advancement in equity for people of color. Just to be clear here, advancement does not mean we met the objective of full equity, nor does it mean we should stop heading in that direction.
Sometimes the best way to explain how important it is, is to talk about any example in which you see someone that looks like you in a position of high esteem, power, or authority. As a result of that, what normally comes to mind is hope, and when you see more and more, hope becomes confidence. That is the aim. Every child should be confident they can become whoever they dream to be.
Although it may not seem like a big feat, the presence of diversity itself in our school serves as a model of normalizing that whoever you are, you can do it.
Is there anything else you’d like to share that we haven’t asked about?
Students, if you need anything please feel free to reach out, and come to our HLSA events! Everyone — and I mean everyone — is always welcome. Thank you.
