Yanci is a fourth year, first-generation, and transfer student with a Central American Studies minor. Her interests in learning about her identity led her to conduct research with the Nawat- Pipil Peoples of Izalco and Cuisnahuat from El Salvador, specifically, how they construct identity within their local community and how they adapt to institutions left by colonization in order to maintain their ancestral teachings. Yanci conducted ethnographic research during the summer of 2024 where she had the opportunity to do person-centered interviews and participant observation as part of the Anthropological Lemelson Honors Program with the supervision of Dr. Shannon Speed. Her research aims to unveil new ways to think about indigeneity- being originario (one’s place of origin)- and demonstrate Nawat-Pipil adaptness to settle-colonial institutions that reinforce their right to exist. Yanci hopes to peruse a PhD in Anthropology to further continue her education.