My Summer 2023 Adventures

On May 12th, 2023 I graduated from the University of Southern California. I had the honor and privilege to study History at the 美国南加州大学 Dornsife Van Hunnick History Department. My story was not considered to be traditional, as I transferred to USC in Fall 2021 from the University of California Merced after completing my first two years. Completing my first two years at UC Merced during a pandemic was not ideal as I juggled taking 18 units, and working 30 hours a week. I transferred during a period of uncertainty as most educational institutions were debating on whether or not to return in person for classes or to remain entirely online. I took the risk and enrolled at USC hoping COVID-19 would settle down and I could experience an entire in person school year for the first time as a junior in college. To my luck, I was able to experience an in person school year, my junior and senior years at USC. During my time at USC, I was awarded the Norman Topping Scholarship, and the Steven Grings and Carol Grings Memorial Scholarship. I formed meaningful and impactful relationships with my professors and my classmates that I know will serve me well in the future. Coming from a single-parent and undocumented household, while being first-generation, and a low-income student, I knew the odds were against me. I’m proud to say that regardless of all these educational barriers, I was able to attend my dream school and graduate Cum Laude from the University of Southern California.

During the Spring Semester, I was enrolled in History 395 Sex and the City: Constructing Gender in London, 1700-1900. Through this class, I was able to participate in a Maymester where the class cohort was able to travel to London for 10 days. Throughout these 10 days, we experienced all the social spaces we discussed during the semester from our readings and assignments allowing an important form of experiential learning to take place.

After I returned from London, I served as a Residential Assistant with USC Upward Bound. As a former Upward Bound Alumnus via the Los Angeles Community College branch, I was able to give back to the community as I was once the student in an Upward Bound program. I would like to thank Maria Garcia for the opportunity and the insightful conversations we had during the program. Shortly after the RA position, I began serving the USC Rossier Global Executive Ed.D. program as an assistant. I aided during the program's intensive sessions, where I saw examples of how a world-class doctoral program was run. Through this opportunity, I was fortunate enough to network with educational leaders, policymakers, and administrators. I would like to thank Sabrina Chong for the opportunity.?

I’m thrilled to announce that I will be continuing my education and beginning my Master of Arts in History at California State University, Los Angeles this fall.?