The Value of Education and Giving Back
To me, getting an education and becoming a college graduate is deeply important because my parents always raised me to value education for myself and to use my skills to give back to the community. As a first-generation student, I’ve directly learned from their dedication and hard work. I truly believe that education benefits everyone and hurts no one; that’s my biggest takeaway.
Finding a Support System
A 10,000 Degrees moment that truly stood out was knowing I have a support system to rely on. If I have questions or don’t know what’s going on, I’m connected to wonderful resources and opportunities. I feel everyone should have access to these opportunities. This has been the most memorable part of being in this program, and I’ve received a lot of support that I will take with me moving forward.
This whole process has been very new to me. As the oldest and the first in my family to go to college, I’ve never really had someone to look to for guidance. The biggest help I’ve received has been being able to ask questions, and just having someone tell me that I’m able to do this.
Education’s Power and Future Plans
I believe in the power of education to change lives because it brings us together, it builds community, and it helps us to get to know ourselves on a deeper level. I’m excited to be transferring to UC Berkeley to study sociology, and I plan to graduate in 2028.
While I’m a little bit undecided on my exact career path, I have been considering going into grad school after my bachelor’s, possibly for psychology, as I’m interested in behavioral health. Ultimately, any work where I can directly connect with people, members of the community, and truly get to know my community is very fulfilling. I want to use everything I learn to provide resources and opportunities for the people who need it the most, especially since I’ve benefited from these resources myself. Giving back what I’ve learned would be just great.