Office Assistant
She/Her
Major(s) and Minor (if any)*
Biology
If you are a first-generation and/or income-eligible student, what has your experience been like at UCSB?
As a first-generation and income-eligible student, the beginning of my path was really challenging, both academically and financially. Having to ask my mom for help with payments that we could barely afford every month made me constantly feel insecure about losing everything I've worked for or not feeling smart enough to pass my chemistry and calculus classes. It wasn't until I reached out to EOP that I was able to find financial and academic resources to achieve my educational and professional goals of my first year. From then on, I started to truly enjoy the campus life without the weight of imposter syndrome holding me back
What would you like to share with students about your experience at UCSB?
I know it can be very frustrating to not pass a test even though we have worked hard for a good grade. In my first year at UCSB, I've seen students fail classes, drop out of college or lose contact with them, either because of a lack of financial resources or because they couldn't handle the pressure of being away from home. I felt that pressure too, but I was able to learn a valuable lesson when I attended the STEP summer program. Jack Rivas and Mr. Jones gave a speech about "taking failure as a way to grow". Not all students had the opportunity to attend STEP, build connections, and connect with the EOP team, but now that I've navigated to those challenges myself, my priority is to share the lessons I learned from EOP and pass them along as encouraging stories from my STEP days.
Top tips for fellow students? (Study tips, self care hacks, fav resources on campus, etc)
Make use of the resources the campus has to offer; it is important for all students to eat well, getting enough fuel to keep the grind going. I will always recommend visiting the food bank at the UCEN, or if you're unable to apply for CalFresh (like myself), visit Basic Needs and apply for food vouchers that the Undocumented Students Services have to offer. Another piece of advice: most of the lecturers have specific office hours, and it can be very difficult to make time on the side to ask questions with the busy college student life. I would strongly recommend CLAS drop-in hours or online appointments. I think it's also crucial to connect with your people so you create a feeling of belonging and community, so I would encourage you to attend to events that the numerous cultural centers have to offer.
Best advice you've received that has helped you at UCSB.
The best advice I received at UCSB was from Jack Rivas during the STEP program: "Take failure as a way to grow." Coming into college, I felt a lot of pressure to be perfect, and struggling on a test or assignment felt like a personal defeat. Shifting my perspective to view setbacks as learning opportunities rather than proof that I didn't belong helped me overcome imposter syndrome and keep pushing forward in my classes. Also, never hesitate to ask for support and build a community early on. As a first-generation student, I initially felt like I had to figure everything out on my own. Learning from EOP mentors that seeking help (whether through tutoring, advising, or office hours) is a sign of strength rather than weakness. It completely changed my college experience and helped me succeed academically.
Why did you choose to be an EOP office assistant?
The reason why I want to work at EOP is because the program genuinely changed the trajectory of my life and played a huge role in my dream of attending UCSB. Now that I have overcome significant academic and financial obstacles with the guidance I received here, I’m ready to convert my experiences into a tool to encourage other students to achieve their goals too.