In this photo is the MC (me) for CAU’s (Centro Americanos Unidos) Noche de Cultura ‘10.  In a few weeks I will earn my first degree from UC Santa Cruz in Theater Arts with a minor in Anthropology. At UCSC, I’ve accumulated 5 years of students organizing with groups consistent with issues of underrepresented peoples and identity. I’ve also done work with UC Santa Cruz’ Educational Partnership Center (UCSC/EPC) as an Academic Advisor/Counselor at a High School setting in Watsonville’s low-income community. As an Academic Advisor/Counselor I worked in a Team.

My desire to work with our youth, particularly youth of color, has led me to fill this role in a number of different ways, and I believe that those experiences have prepared me well to serve as a returning SMASH RA this summer at Stanford University. This past year and a half I had the opportunity to work as a student assistant at UC Berkeley’s Haste Street Child Development Center. I feel that the lessons I learned there about classroom management will help me make more efficient and productive use of the time I spend with the scholars.

As an undergrad at UC Berkeley, I was involved with a student organization called the Black Recruitment and Retention Center (BRRC).  As the Outreach Coordinator for BRRC, I did a lot of high school presentations, to provide under-represented students with additional resources and information that was necessary for them to apply and succeed in higher education. BRRC fell under the umbrella organization of Bridges. Bridges is at multi-cultural coalition at UC Berkeley which includes many different Retention and Recruitment Centers.

 My interest to work with SMASH Academy directly stemmed from my own experience as a second generation immigrant to this country. My parents have always instilled in me the importance of education but it was not until I began working at Thurgood Marshall Academy in Southeast D.C. that I truly realized what this meant. These students faced adversities including living in an extremely dangerous environment, family turmoil, and pressure to support their families or discontinue education.

As a SMASH alum myself, I am extremely excited to return as a RA for SMASH at Stanford University. As a Latina born and raised in East Palo Alto by immigrants to this country, I understand many of the challenges students from underrepresented communities face in trying to attain success through education. I am really inspired by the continuous growth of the program and by the amazing contributions SMASH scholars will continue to share with the rest of their communities.

Thursday, March 31, 2011, I hosted my second, official Book-Signing Event.  I never imagined I would embark upon a career as a writer.  It has allowed me to alleviate the extremely tumultuous past I have been fortunate enough to transcend.  Manifestation is such a true and powerful thing in this Life and being granted the opportunity to work with the SMASH Academy this summer at Stanford is extremely empowering.  This opportunity will afford me the chance to pay forward the skills, knowledge and passion that I have acquired through the years, onto these wonderful scholar

I am 24 and was born and raised in San Jose, CA. I went to college at the University of California San Diego and received my B.A. in Political Science. I recently moved back to work for City Year where I engage underprivileged students in mentoring, tutoring, and after school activities. I have found my passion in helping my students succeed and hope to bring the same passion to SMASH.

• I was in a Vietnamese ESL class from first to fifth grade for no apparent reason
• Sloths freak me out
• I love animals and am a part-time vegan