Majors: Ethnic and Race Studies and Sociology
Why did you choose your majors?
Working in the Office of Undergraduate Admission made me realize I really enjoy talking and connecting with families and prospective students. I love being a part of their journey by answering questions and giving them tours as a Presidential Host. Because of my experiences in the office and the Presidential Host program, I decided to major in sociology.
I took the Introduction class to ethnic and race studies with Dr. Lorena Munoz early in the year which talked about topics that opened my eyes to real-world issues. It taught me about problems in my own Mexican community that I never knew existed. The class gave me the necessary tools and skills to navigate those pressing issues. By the end of the semester I had officially added ethnic and race studies as my second major.
Would you recommend them to a future student? Why?
I would recommend sociology and ethnic and race studies to any student who is interested in learning about different groups of people and problems relating to them. This pairing equips students with the necessary understanding and tools to help and improve communities.
What are your future plans?
My goal in the future is to help underserved youth get to college and stay in college. I received a lot of help from Cal Lutheran during the application process and it made me realize that many students do not get the same support.
Are there any particular experiences — in or out of the classroom — that have helped you identify that path?
Growing up as a first -eneration college student meant I did not have much academic support which made the college process a lot harder. The admission counselors at Cal Lutheran consistently reached out to me and offered me extra assistance. The office was always willing to answer any of my questions during the process which made it less intimidating.
My positive experience with the office motivated me to work with them as a student worker which in return gave me a unique perspective into the work they do. It helped me realize that my skills and interests are aligned with what admission counselors do which is how I decided what to major in.