My name is Mikiko “Miki” Sato (she/her/hers) and I am a doctoral student in Human Development and Family Studies with a concentration in Lifespan Human Development and Family Diversity. My faculty advisors are Drs. Francisco Villarruel and Desiree Qin.  My research examines the ways racial and ethnic minority youth navigate the constraints of structural oppression to actively resist and create a more just and equitable world. The central questions that drive my scholarly work are: why do certain youth choose to engage in social change efforts as an activist and/or community leader? What are the underlying motivations and sociopolitical challenges that these young people face as they take on this identity? Additionally, I am interested in understanding the role that both natural and formal mentors have in fostering this developmental process. My dissertation will specifically explore the lived experiences of indigenous young women in Guatemala who are actively promoting social change within their communities.  After my PhD, I hope to pursue a career in an applied research setting that promotes youth development and leadership.