Getting admitted to UCSB is an extraordinary accomplishment – congratulations! No matter what your background, you made it due to your own hard work, and you are now an important part of UCSB. Now that you’re there, a whole new world is opened up to you, and the real work begins. Your years at UCSB will be a journey of your personal and intellectual growth; embrace this opportunity and explore as many possibilities. Try things you never thought you would, learn about things that catch your slightest interest, meet and learn about people who are different from you.

UCSB has many quality resources that are there to help you succeed – use them! First, meet your EOP counselor. Whether you have or do not have a specific question, simply introduce yourself to your counselor so that you know who s/he is and s/he knows who you are. Also make it a point to personally meet your professors; this will benefit you in many ways, including getting help with the class and having references for letters of recommendations (which you will definitely need). Get familiar with Career & Counseling Services, Study Abroad, and other programs and services.

It’s typical for university students to one day feel like they’re on top of the world, and the next to question what they’re even doing at the university. Furthermore, as a first-generation college student from a low socioeconomic background, I sometimes felt like I was in unfamiliar territory and that I lacked a necessary knowledge base. I knew that most of my peers were knowledgeable and comfortable with the university because of what they learned from their parents, schools, and communities. But when you’re the first to go to college and that knowledge base is missing, you have to learn about everything yourself. This is where EOP came in for me. EOP was not only my survival kit, it was one of my keys to success. EOP was a place where I went to see familiar faces and voices. It was a place where I asked questions about classes, internship programs, and financial aid. Most importantly, the counselors and other EOP students became like a family to me. The counselors at EOP were interested in who I was both as a student and a person, in what my future plans were, and were always available to share their wealth of knowledge and to guide me in the right direction.

My education has allowed me to fulfill my dreams. It has provided me with choices in life, both economically and personally. I am able to make better decisions, as I am able to understand, analyze and act on life situations. Overall, my education has provided me with a real independence that I cherish. I especially value my independence as a woman; I have the tools to be self-reliant and to succeed in anything that I do. My family as a whole has also benefited from my education in that it has opened up new possibilities for them too. Other members in my family, including my mother, have chosen to have college and education play an important part of their lives.

My experience at UCSB was so extraordinary as a whole that it is difficult to choose a highlight. One of the most wonderful experiences was when I received the Storke award. At the ceremony, when I was presented with the award, the Chancellor recognized my parents and asked them to stand. I will never forget the overwhelming feeling I had at that moment, as I watched my parents proudly stand and the audience applaud for them. I was so grateful that my parents rightly had this recognition, because they worked so hard their whole lives and instilled the value of education in my sisters and I, so that we would have better lives. I dedicated that award to my parents.