Originally, I set out to become a college athlete. Out of high school, I received a full-ride track scholarship to Cal State Northridge. One day, I was in Brooklyn visiting my father and it hit me — I had no interest in running for the next four years of my life. I’d always been a fan of video games, manga, comics and all that fun nerdy stuff, so that’s what I wanted to do as a job. At 17, I made the decision to turn down my scholarship and to attend a junior college. A lot of people, including my parents, were upset. The track coach told me I was “making the worst decision of my life.” They didn’t understand; they didn’t see what I saw. I had a goal I promised myself I was going to get to — making creative arts my full-time job in Los Angeles (even though I didn’t know exactly what I wanted to do at the time).
I went to Mt. San Jacinto College for two years while I also worked at a grocery store. It was nice gaining some real-life experience out of high school instead of going straight to a four-year institution. I developed a sense of discipline and focus. I’ll never forget when one of my professors, Christina Yamanaka, floated the idea of me attending her alma mater UCLA. I told her I didn’t know if I was “UCLA material” and she laughed, pushing me to apply. She gave me a flyer for the Center for Community College Partnerships (CCCP) and that’s what began my journey to UCLA. After a visit to campus through the Puente Project, I wanted to be a UCLA Bruin.
CCCP personally helped me three ways:
- First, CCCP provided a community for me. It gave me a space to connect with other like-minded individuals. We were all young and scrappy, trying to make something of ourselves, trying to do more for ourselves and our respective communities. CCCP gathered brilliant minds and created this magical social contract of excellence held together by their staff and mentors.
- Second, CCCP held me accountable. I’d been disciplined through my junior college years, but their constant outreach and required updates helped me level up even more than I thought I could. I can tell they cared about their mission and the results they aimed to yield.
- Lastly, CCCP instilled in me an urge to serve others. If it weren’t for the kindness and generosity showed to me by the CCCP staff and the values I learned while being a college mentor while at UCLA, I don’t believe I ever would’ve considered working at nonprofit Young Storytellers. I understood the value of mentorship and how much believing, uplifting and empowering others can change their entire lives. Now, service and volunteering are a part of my daily life. And that’s all because of CCCP.
Graduating from UCLA has opened so many doors. I wouldn’t be where I am today if it weren’t for CCCP’s help in supporting me and my goals. Overall, it helped me see what I’m capable of with access and opportunity.
Today, I’m a professional writer for animated television, comic books and video games. I use my platform and my voice in hopes of creating a more equitable and softer world. Additionally, I continue to volunteer as a mentor for arts education programs and have aspirations to start my own mentorship venture soon.
I’ll never forget the impact CCCP has had on me. They champion those often overlooked or dismissed. They provide guidance and resources to those in need. They follow up. They don’t let you quit. They hold you accountable every step of the way. They show up for you when you’re in need. CCCP is probably the best advocate for transfer students any college campus will ever have and their impact is undeniable.
