Link to Audio Podcast: https://www.bravevoices.fieldscenter.princeton.edu/native-indigenous-voices

Interview with Sam Toledo '28

Hosted by Gabby Chavarria ‘26

Gabby Chavarria '26 (00:05)

So thank you for coming and interviewing with us today. So our first section is introductions. So it'll be name, class year, and concentration. Feel free to also share your tribal affiliation, nation, clan, or the tribal community you come from. And if you wish to share this in your own Native or Indigenous language, then you can do so.

Sam Toledo '28 (00:22)

[Introduction in Native and/or Indigenous language.] Hi. My name is Sam Toledo. I am a sophomore in the class of 2028. I am studying CBE, which is chemical and biological engineering on the pre-medical track. I am Diné, or I'm Navajo. Diné means the people. I am of the Navajo Nation. My homelands are in Arizona and the New Mexico area. But I'm from northern Utah. But yeah.

Gabby Chavarria '26 (00:52)

So our first section is on community and environment. And the first question is what is your initial impression of Princeton? How does Princeton's environment compare to the environment you were raised or grew up in?

Sam Toledo '28 (01:03)

My initial impression of Princeton is like, just like heavy academics, I guess. I think I kind of had like a head start in the sense because like two of my older sisters also went to Princeton. So I kind of knew what I was getting myself into for the most part. So I think I kind of had like, I was kind of prepared for it mentally from a younger age, I guess. But I guess in terms of like where I come from, it's, it's like similar. Like, I'm not from a big city. I’m from like a smaller town. So it doesn't really feel too crazy. And I think I was kind of like had an idea of like just to be prepared academically wise. Like I feel like it hasn’t been like that bad of a transition. But yeah.

Gabby Chavarria '26 (01:37)

What was your experience like your first year here at Princeton, and how did you adjust to the transition?

Sam Toledo '28 (01:42)

My first year was a little rough. I think the freshman engineering prereqs are kind of a lot and can be a lot. And so I think that was kind of the hardest part. But I found like community and like, like I joined a good dance group on campus. I'm in diSiac.

Gabby Chavarria '26 (01:57)

Oh that's awesome.

Sam Toledo '28 (01:59)

I joined a dance group, and I also am part of NAP, like the Natives at Princeton affinity group on campus. And I think just, like, through those different groups, like, I found, like, masses that I really gotten along with really well and like, so I think that helped the transition a lot more because I think like when you find the people, it's like easier to like navigate everything.

Gabby Chavarria '26 (02:17)

Yeah.

What is your relationship like with your family and your tribal or Indigenous community since leaving home? And has being at Princeton changed that?

Sam Toledo '28 (02:25)

I think my relationship with my family’s gotten closer. I think being away from them physically, like the distance, like I, I find myself like texting them a lot more. I call them, like, not on a daily basis as much. I probably should. I don't, but I still call them. Like, there's more of an effort to reach out, which I think just shows more of like that kinship and care, I guess. I guess my relationship to my identity, it's…I've found more strength in my identity, I guess, especially being Native at Princeton. It's made me more aware of it, I guess, and just wanting to

be more public about it and do better things about it. So I think that's, I think it's strengthened both those aspects since coming here.

Gabby Chavarria '26 (03:01)

So do you feel that you found a community and/or a home away from home at Princeton? And if so, when was the first time you felt this way?

Sam Toledo '28 (03:09)

I think I definitely found community. I mentioned like, the dance, like I found people through that. I also became an OA leader this past year. And it's like, I've definitely found a good community within the other OA leaders. But I think in regards to like, the Native community on campus, we don't see each other as much as we should, but when we see each other, like we're like, oh, like there’s like a good acknowledgement there. And I think that's always good. I wouldn't say we're the closest, but like that's again nice like general like stewardship that we have together.

Gabby Chavarria '26 (03:33)

Are there any moments where you felt a sense of community or connection because of your Native or Indigenous identity?

Sam Toledo '28 (03:39)

I'd say, yeah. Well I feel like this is rooted in any Native or Indigenous group like this question, like it's just like a way of life for a lot of, like, Native peoples. So I think it's just like when we walk, we walk like, with intent. And we like, walk with, kinship is a big part of, like kinship networks is a big part of like, who we are. And so I'd say like there aren't like any definitive moments I can really pinpoint. It’s just, that's just who we are as people. I guess, like in relation to like, Native identity, like, I think just like, you know someone's Native and it's like you get along because you're Native. I can't get any like, specific, definitive moments that would encapsulate that, I guess.

Gabby Chavarria '26 (04:14)

So our next section is identity. Has being at Princeton changed the way you perceive yourself as Native or Indigenous?

Sam Toledo '28 (04:20)

I think it's made me become more aware of my identity being Indigenous in the sense of like, I grew up in Utah, so like, most of the area was predominantly like non-Native. But I think since coming to Princeton, especially being in a more like academic, like heavy focused area. Like there are moments of, like, of course, like imposter syndrome or whatnot that any person can feel. But I think in regards to like, my Native identity, it’s made me more aware of how I kind of go about Princeton and how I want to be perceived as a person because I'm Native. So it's like, I'm like, I'm representing my people, and so I have to show that and prove that to, to Princeton, to both like community, but also like academia and such that like, Native people are here and we can do it. So I think like since there are so few of us, it's like put more emphasis on like the work we do is even more important for our people.

Yeah, I’d say that.

Gabby Chavarria '26 (05:12)

So our next section is about campus life. I think you kind of touched on this a little bit, but do you believe that your Native or Indigenous identity and culture are represented at Princeton, and if so, in what ways?

Sam Toledo '28 (05:23)

I'd say event wise, we aren’t represented. I'd say there's...it's hard because there are very few Natives and Indigenous people at Princeton to begin with. I think there are kind of struggles with transparency in terms of like having, like, actual events. I think it's hard to get support sometimes. And so I say in terms of actual like community, I think in the past few years, there has been a heavy more focus on, like representing Native identity. Like, I've seen more events of like, different talks and different like tribal people coming here and there like different food opportunities being like kind of offered, I guess. But I think, for the most part, like it's, it's still kind of hard to fight for those like vocal like events, I guess. So it’s like, it's like a yes and no. Like it's like, there are some, but like there could be more, like it could be better. But also it's like it's hard at the same time.

Gabby Chavarria '26 (06:13)

So our next section is on administration. If there is one change that the Princeton leadership could make to improve experiences for Native and Indigenous students on campus, what would that be?

Sam Toledo '28 (06:24)

I think just support. I think just like supporting Native students, Indigenous students. In terms of like support and affinity group leadership, I think in terms of like supporting different like initiatives, different working groups and like including that voice, I would say is like, I think the biggest thing is just support. Because like, there's like a little foundation and like, unity and like, from there you can build like a kinship network sprouting out. Like if you don’t have like that foundation, it's kind of hard to like for everything else to fall in place. But I think in like recent years, like the administration has gotten better about, like what it means to be Native at Princeton. Like, from when my sisters were here. Like, the battle is very much different now. I would say in the past, like ten years. But like, that doesn't mean like the battle is still like, it's still going on. It's still continuous. I think just support and like transparency, I guess.

Gabby Chavarria '26 (07:10)

We actually wanted to ask a question about Keely and Zoe and your potential leadership for Natives at Princeton. We wanted to ask how their positions, in that leadership has, like, possibly influenced you?

Sam Toledo '28 (07:21)

So I'm currently the president of Natives at Princeton right now. I would say, I think, like, all throughout, like, middle school and high school, like, obviously like, they’re my sisters I hear all about Princeton and whatnot. And they were, my sister was a president, they were both presidents of NAP for different, different time periods. And like, I think just being at home, like we share so much of each other as like a family, like any like our group chats always like blowing up at, like, oh my goodness, like, this happened today. And so I did hear a lot about it growing up. And I think coming to Princeton, I knew that's what I both wanted to do, but also like something I should do as well. I didn't really do much with NAP last year. I was just trying to get my footing at Princeton, first off. Academics have always been like, our family's, like, biggest emphasis, no matter what. Like, always, like, look out for yourself. And so I think freshman year, I focused more on academics and like, getting my grades up more or less. And then. But now that's the year that I'm slowly trying to figure more things out. And it's like, still kind of tricky because like the current leadership of NAP, like none of us really like have led an ODUS group before, so it’s like figuring out the navigations of like funding and like, it's all kind of unfamiliar territory, but I think it’s a small community, but like, we're like, we’re strong. We're trying to, we're figuring it out or like, we're still making ways to come together and whatnot.

But I wouldn't say like my sisters forced me to, like to be active in NAP at all. Like, that's, that was completely my own choice. I would say, like the, the focus of NAP has changed. I know when they were here, like, there were like times where NAP was more like advocacy based. But I think as of right now, our current goal as a leadership in NAP is to be more community based. Build a community, seek each other out, be there for each other before we can actually advocate for anything. I think that's like one, like, little shift that NAP has made in the past while. At least we’re trying. We’re trying to accomplish that now. But my sisters, like they both did like amazing work and like, hopefully we'll carry on a bit more if I can. Yeah.

Gabby Chavarria '26 (09:09)

That's really cool.

So we have some extra questions. How did you feel when you got accepted into Princeton? And how does this feeling compare to how you feel now?

Sam Toledo '28 (09:17)

I mean, I feel like any Princeton student would feel the same, like how excited they were. Like, I remember like, I can like, remember the whole day like vividly and just like getting in. I was very excited. I think the feelings I felt were more like, it affirmed that everything I had done in high school would amount to like, something bigger. And so I think just like the affirmation was like, the greatest part of it all is just be like, okay, like I did all that work and it paid off, finally.

Not finally. It always paid off in the moment. But like in a way that's like more socially like understandable, I guess. I think as of right now, it's, I have to remind myself that because I think and like just the midst of everything, it's like, I just want to get through the week. Like, I can complain about school all I want, but it's like, okay, I worked to be here. Like the other day I was there, like, I think I was, like, trying to get through a slump of the week. And I like, some reason, like a TikTok pulled up my like page and it was like someone getting into Princeton, which was like crazy of like a, like a little like how that happened. Like wow that was on my For You page. Like, I saw that video and I was like, wait, like people and like, I think it reminded me like, how happy I was when I got in here. So I should continue to push it and pay it forward.

Gabby Chavarria '26 (10:18)

What was your experience getting involved in campus life and what activities or student groups are you involved in? We obviously know that NAP is one. But what drew you to those groups or activities?

Sam Toledo '28 (10:29)

NAP? Yeah, I drew just because of my identity and like community based action. diSiac dance company. I just showed up to audition with my friends, and then I did not expect anything. And then I'm still there somehow. OA leadership. I did OA my frosh year and I just really enjoyed my trip so much and like I, I grew up like always camping always like going like I was like, like a little boy scout as a kid. It's like I learned all of the tricks, I guess, more or less. So I've always had a good relationship with the outdoors, I guess. And I just, the idea of like, leadership in outdoor settings is the perfect combination. And it worked, actually, with someone like, I led a trip this recent orientation and like, it was like the best week of my life, honestly. And like, I still see my frosh everywhere and I'm just like, hey, how are you? But other than that, like, those are the only student groups I'm involved with.

Gabby Chavarria '26 (11:15)

What are three words you would use to describe your Princeton experience?

Sam Toledo '28 (11:18)

I'd say one is community…It's hard. It's a hard question.

Gabby Chavarria '26 (11:22)

I know.

Sam Toledo '28 (11:23)

That's the one that's, that's like stumping me the most. I think obviously like rigor, just because, like, academics are a big part of Princeton. So like community, rigor... I think, like, creation or, like, create in the sense that, like, there's a lot of opportunities to, like, do things, like do something new. Whether it's like you're creating a better like version of yourself, you're creating like a better future for yourself. You're creating like relationships. Like, I think there's a lot of like opportunities to create in many different aspects and ways. And so I think that's like Princeton allows that opportunity a lot of ways. Yeah, those are my three words.

Gabby Chavarria '26 (11:56)

So our final question is, what is your hope for future Native and Indigenous students on Princeton's campus?

Sam Toledo '28 (12:04)

I think I think it's just more of us to be here. I think it's hard because, like, you look at other Ivy League institutions, like, like Dartmouth or Brown. And like, they have a very, like, good network. They have a lot of Native and Indigenous students. There's a lot of, like, different like, resources and programs and like, there are many of them there for a reason. And then I look at Princeton, and I'm like, okay, like I can count on like two hands how many there are of us. Not really. But like, it shows like how few there are of us comparatively. So I think that's my biggest wish is just for more of us to be here and to survive and thrive here.