Matias Carrera
Intellectual Curiosity. Athletic Discipline. Leadership in the Making.
With a passion for politics, economics, history, and public affairs, Matias brings together academic ambition, personal character, and the mindset of a student-athlete committed to growth, purpose, and contribution.
About Matias
Matias Carrera is a student-athlete, aspiring leader, and intellectually curious young man from Los Angeles, CA. with a strong passion for politics, public policy, history, economics, and leadership. He approaches life with a rare combination of discipline, thoughtfulness, and ambition, always seeking to grow not only as a student, but also as a person of character and purpose.
Currently a student at Notre Dame High School in Los Angeles, Matias has developed a deep interest in understanding the ideas, institutions, and decisions that shape society. His academic and personal pursuits reflect a genuine desire to engage with the world in a meaningful way, whether through the study of public affairs, leadership, or global issues.
His academic journey has included summer study at the University of Oxford in Politics, Economics, and International Relations, an experience that broadened his perspective and further deepened his interest in global affairs and public leadership. He later continued that academic journey at Georgetown University’s Political Action & Public Policy program, where he deepened his understanding of government, civic engagement, and the role of policy in shaping communities and institutions.
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Beyond the classroom, Matias is a dedicated Varsity Lacrosse player whose experience in athletics has helped shape his resilience, competitive spirit, and commitment to teamwork. In 2026, he was drafted by the Mexico National Lacrosse Team to represent Mexico at the Heritage World Cup in New Jersey an honor that reflects both his athletic dedication and his pride in representing his heritage on an international stage.
At his core, Matias is driven by a desire to learn, contribute, and lead with intention. He brings together academic curiosity, athletic discipline, and a strong sense of identity, qualities that make him not only a promising student, but also someone prepared to add real value to a university community.
Experience
Matias's Highlights
Student-Athlete Leader
Notre Dame High School
Westside Bears Lacrosse Club
Blue Knights Box Lacrosse
Mexico's Lacrosse National Team
Matias’s experience as a varsity lacrosse player at Notre Dame High School, a club-level athlete, and a member of the Mexico's Lacrosse National Team has shaped him into a disciplined and team-oriented leader.
Competing at multiple levels has strengthened his resilience, sharpened his competitive mindset, and taught him the importance of accountability, composure, and leading by example.
Through athletics, he has come to understand that leadership is built not only through performance, but through character, trust, and the ability to inspire others in pursuit of a common goal.
Academic Contributor
Research Initiatives
As an academic contributor, Matias brings intellectual curiosity, thoughtful analysis, and a sincere commitment to learning.
Drawn to politics, economics, history, and public policy, he seeks not only to understand ideas in the classroom, but also to engage with their real-world implications.
Through his leadership and involvement in Model UN at Notre Dame High School, where students debate topics such as international trade and humanitarian aid, as well as his participation in the YMCA Youth Delegation and the UCLA Teen Advisory Council, Matias has developed a habit of contributing to meaningful conversations around leadership, global affairs, and social challenges.
These experiences, together with his studies at University of Oxford and Georgetown University, reflect a student who is engaged, reflective, and prepared to add depth, perspective, and energy to an academic community.
Mentorship Roles
Guidance and Support
Matias views mentorship as one of the clearest expressions of leadership.
Fully bilingual in English and Spanish, he has supported younger students through private tutoring in Spanish as a second language, helping them grow in confidence, communication, and academic ability.
He has also invested in the development of younger athletes by coaching youth lacrosse players during summer camps, where he leads with patience, discipline, and genuine encouragement.
What makes these experiences especially meaningful is not simply that he gives his time, but that he does so with a sincere commitment to helping others recognize their potential.
In this way, Matias reflects a form of leadership grounded not in recognition, but in service, the kind of presence that earns trust, inspires growth, and adds lasting value to the people and communities around him.
Leadership Positions
Empowering Others
For Matias, leadership is most powerful when it empowers others.
Across athletics, academics, mentorship, and civic engagement, he has developed a leadership style defined by discipline, empathy, and a sincere commitment to helping people grow.
Whether mentoring younger students, coaching youth lacrosse players, contributing to Model UN, or participating in leadership-centered organizations such as the YMCA Youth Delegation and the UCLA Teen Advisory Council, he has shown that his instinct is not only to lead, but to elevate.
His ability to combine confidence with humility, and ambition with service, reflects the kind of leadership that strengthens teams, builds trust, and leaves a lasting impact on a community.
Looking ahead, Matias aspires to pursue a future shaped by leadership, public policy, economics, and international affairs.
He is motivated by a desire to better understand the forces that shape society and to contribute thoughtfully to the institutions and communities he becomes part of.
Drawn to fields such as public service, law, policy, and business, he hopes to build a path that combines intellectual depth with meaningful impact.
His long-term aspiration is not simply to succeed, but to lead with purpose, bringing together discipline, perspective, and service in ways that create lasting value for others.
Future Aspirations
Vision for Success
Mission Statement
I want to be someone who actually understands the world; how power works, why institutions rise and fall, what makes communities thrive or fracture. That pull toward politics, economics, history, and international affairs isn't academic for me. It's personal.
I believe the decisions made in those arenas shape real lives, and I want to be someone who helps shape them for the better. My goal isn't just to achieve: it's to contribute. Through academics, athletics, mentorship, and service, I'm trying to build the kind of character that earns the right to lead: one defined by curiosity, discipline, and a genuine sense of responsibility to others.
I don't have everything figured out. But I know the kind of person I want to become someone who lifts others as they grow, engages seriously with the challenges that matter most, and leads with both conviction and humility.
Academic Extracurricular
University of Oxford
Politics and Economics
In this course, I built a foundational understanding of both politics and economics and how the two fields intersect. I studied core concepts like government types, supply and demand, and inflation, before moving into broader topics such as major political ideologies, international trade, and economic frameworks like Keynesianism and neoliberalism.
University of Oxford
International Relations
In this program, I developed a strong foundation in International Relations by studying mainstream IR theories and connecting them to real-world global events. I practiced foreign policy and analytical skills through political simulations, independent projects, and seminar discussions, gaining a hands-on understanding of how world politics actually works.
National Student Leadership Conference at
Georgetown University
Political Action & Public Policy
In this program, I deepened my understanding of American politics and public policy by examining major issues such as healthcare, foreign policy, tax reform, and social justice. Through campaign and Senate simulations, debates, and policy discussions, I strengthened my analytical, communication, and leadership skills while gaining practical insight into how advocacy and legislation work.
Gallery
Explore a collection of moments that showcase my journey. From thrilling lacrosse and football games to cherished family gatherings, this gallery reflects my personal side.
