FSA Core 2013-2014: Candidates and Personal Statements
May 13, 2013 Leave a comment
ACTIVITIES
- CHAD CECILIA
Hello my name is Chad Cecilia and I am running for the Activities Coordinator Position. My involvement with FSA has been a great time so far. I have been a general body member of FSA for almost two years participating in ASF, Kasama, KAMP and participating in Activities events like Friendship Games and Multicultural Festival. With that said, I feel like its time for me to take a position on FSA Core to give back to the community. FSA is an amazing space for people to come together to grow and learn. With everyone in their respective roles and aspects each person leaves with a lot more than they have come in with, gaining new friendships, experiences and knowledge about themselves as well as others. FSA is a great resource to help students academically, socially and culturally.
I am applying for the Activities position because I want to help spread more information about FSA through the cultural and social aspects it brings to campus and our community. One thing that caught my eye about the position is that it coordinates and organizes Friendship Games. During my 1st year, Friendship Games was one of the first events I attended where I was introduced to the larger community of FSA. I was able to meet a lot of the current members as well as past members and make relationships new people. Since it is really close to my heart, I want to extend these types of feelings of inclusiveness and welcoming to the existing and incoming students.
My personal goals for this position are to help motivate myself to be more organized, to gain a different perspective within the community and to provide as well as give back to the community. For this specific position I want to try to organize days to go over the games of friendship games. This will help us be competitive in the games and would also help introduce existing members to new incoming members who would like to participate. I also want to spread more awareness about FSA and filipino culture either through events or workshops that would be open to everyone on campus.
Leadership skills and qualities that I possess that will help me excel in this position are that I am a am a good public speaker as well as a good listener. I think that I have a strong enough voice to be able to lead and offer my opinions on matters, situations and events. I am a tireless worker, I know that there are a lot of things that can go wrong with Friendship Games during and between the event. In terms of student organizing experience I have helped with last year’s FSA Grad and during this year I was a luggage committee head for ASF 17. Although my organizing experience is limited, I’m eager to help broaden my student organizing skills experiences. Thank you!
HISTORIAN
- MICHELLE FERNANDO
My first experience in FSA was going to KAMP dinner over the summer of 2011. Because of that experience I joined KAMP when I got to UCSC. I also went to many FSA general body meetings and mixers like the Hot Chocolate Mixer and Fall General Body Meeting with the friends I met over at that dinner. This year, I joined PDT and Kasama. I had so much fun performing the Up-themed Waltz at KAMP Dinner and doing Binasuan during PCC. I also joined KAMP again (shoutout to Cagayan Fam!!). FSA is my second family and keeps me retained. This group has given me memories I will never forget and has made my time at UCSC enjoyable.
I am applying for this position because I love taking pictures and I want to be more active in FSA. I take photos all the time, post them on Facebook and Instagram, and send Snapchats to my friends everyday (I average 3-5 snaps a day). I want to capture FSA’s memories throughout the year and have them available for all to see (through the Facebook page, annual scrapbook, etc.)! I want FSA members to look back at the pictures and videos I take and recall moments and feelings that I captured in my shots.
I have many goals if elected for Historian. My biggest one is to document FSA’s memories throughout the year. I want to take pictures of everyone, not just a specific group of people. I will be at most, if not all, FSA events. With the best of my ability, I will go to events of different aspects to support them and capture performances with pictures and videos. I will work with Media Relations to have media posted on Facebook and shared through the newsletter, anthology, programs and scrapbook. I would also like to store our memories in an external hard drive for back up. I hope to accomplish all these goals to show how great FSA is and to illustrate the FSA mission statement.
I’ve had plenty of practice and experience taking pictures of people. After I first learned how to use my parents’ digital camera in middle school, I take pictures almost everywhere I go or whenever I’m with friends. My Iphone or compact Nikon S8100 is always on me. I also always edit and organize all my pictures, post them on Facebook and tag every single one of them so those also apart of the picture can see (see my PCC XXII album J). My friends always take their Facebook profile pictures from my many albums. I was a swim coach for little kids so I know how to take charge of a crowd. In addition, I’m friendly and not afraid to talk to people or to ask if they want their pictures taken. Furthermore, I was in PDT and Kasama this year where I worked on my time management skills and took numerous pictures for myself and others.
- BRIAN JACINTO
Well, my name is Brian Jacinto and this is my first year being part of the FSA and I started about by joining Kasama. I really enjoyed it and have felt really welcomed by the community. To me the FSA has come to be a place where I can be comfortable, and where I know people are willing to help me, like a family. My involvement with FSA is not just through Kasama, but also through other things, like helping out at ASF and being part of KAMP. I have to main reasons for applying for this position, the first being that I have enjoyed this community so much that I want to get more involved, and I want to help in more ways. The second reason is because enjoying taking pictures because I like how it helps freeze a memory for people which they go back and enjoy whenever they want. This is especially important to me because I have I have created so many good memories here and I would like to help in preserving some of those memories for other.
If elected, my goal, as I have said already, will be to be to capture people’s memories so that they can look back and see the fun they have had, and I feel like this is important to the FSA because not only will the memories be there for people to look back at how much fun they have had, but also so they can see how they have grown, changed, and even for those who weren’t there to see what an amazing environment this is. I have many qualities that make me a good candidate for Historian. I am always on time, I am very responsible, and when I commit to something I put all effort into it. Some relevant experience I have had is that in my summer program in high school I was the historian and had a part in creating the memory book, and I have also previously photographed for different events back home.
ALAY
- MARINEL YORO
1. Please explain your involvement in FSA and what does FSA mean to you?
For the past two years I have been involved in KAMP and from my experiences within this aspect of FSA, I feel as though I have really been able to find a community in which I truly connect with and have been able to develop strong friendships with the members of my family from both last year and this year. FSA has provided me with a community in which I can identify with culturally, a privilege in which was lacking in my high school experience and back home. As a predominantly white community, FSA has made me feel more at home and more in touch with my cultural background here at UCSC. Because of this, I feel as though FSA has become an outlet for me to get more involved within the organizations here at UCSC as a whole.
2. Why are you applying for this position?
Within the past year, I haven’t been as involved in FSA as I would like to and I think that if elected, it would be a really great opportunity to be able to get more involved within the community. The arts are also something that I am personally very passionate about and I feel that I could potentially bring a lot of new ideas to the table that cater both to the individual needs of artists within our community and the well-being of the community as a collective.
3. What are your goals for the position/aspect if elected? How do these goals relate to FSA as a whole student organization?
My primary goal if elected as the Alay Co-coordinator is to be able to provide a space where members of the community can creatively express themselves, whether it is through art, poetry, or dance. Also, as an aspect of FSA, I think that it would also be a great supplemental goal to use Alay as a means of not only building individual empowerment, but to increase community empowerment and involvement. Aside from workshops and the publication, I think Alay would be a great outlet for community projects as well, such as making a mural.
4. Leadership qualities that you posses that would help you with this position and any relevant experiences you have (ie planning events, working with organizations, being a member of other student organization)
My leadership skills include involvement in UCSC’s Asian Pacific Islander Student Alliance, where I was Co-Chair for the Winter of 2013. As of the start of Spring Quarter 2013, I have held the position of the SUA representative for APISA as well. As a collective experience, I feel that this has helped me develop important communication skills as well as exposed me to the dynamics of working with other people to plan events. Much of what APISA is centered around is event planning and making negotiations with one another to allow for these events to be collective contributions dedicated to outreaching to the API communities on campus. I feel that this has helped teach me what it means to be a community and what it means to work together for a common cause.
- TEM YSMAEL
FSA has become a new home for me. As a self-identified Filipino-American, I found myself lost throughout my freshman year in terms of my identity. I was a part of KAMP but did not really participate in any of the events. I had friends in FSA and found myself attending one of the Fall meet ups this year. I was lucky to be approached by Arielle Dualan and her engaging attitude towards FSA. I had a previous love for singing and she offered me a chance to be a part of Isang Himig. I am proud to be a part of this group because it was never a smooth ride, but a lot of perseverance and go through obstacles. Isang Himig has become the space for me to have fun and just sing my heart out.
Throughout my time being a part of KAMP and IH under FSA, I was offered a chance to renew another previous love of mine, spoken word poetry. I lost my passion for this when I was unable to make Rainbow Theater. Christine approached me because of my freestyle earlier in the year at the KAMP Meet-and-Greet yet I was definitely hesitant to perform for PCC. After a lot of contemplation, I decided to do it. The portion of my piece where I spoke about my hyphenated-identity was short and sweet and seeing the smiles I put on peoples’ faces made it that much sweeter.
My goal is to put highlight Alay and all the work that will be put into it, whether it’s the art or poetry sent in to us to publish. I feel so strongly about showcasing talent, that I was disappointed that Alay didn’t receive a curtain call during PCC. I felt that the work Christine, Steven, and Nikki put to send out a message to the people should be praised and recognized, not just a scripted-booed-off-stage moment. It’s this moment that left a slight spark in my head that running for Alay coordinator is for me.
I do possess leadership qualities that I believe will make me shine as Alay coordinator. I regained my love for poetry and I feel like that is what is going to drive me and this organization to success. Other than FSA, another association I am involved with is SUA. I am the Student Union Assembly Recording Clerk which means that I always have to be punctual as I record minutes for every meeting. Along with that, I take part in monitoring the SUA website and other meetings such as SOFA which designated funds to organizations that put on great events such as PCC. To add to my credentials, I was also the VSA president back in high school so I have diversified myself when learning peoples’ cultures. Above all that, I’m just a guy you can have wonderful conversations with and here to put a smile on your face.J
My path to FSA has been that of a person lost man who stumbled upon a new home. I am lucky to have met so many people that have influenced and supported me throughout this process and I hope you serve you all as a possible Alay coordinator next year.
-TemChainz
- KRYSTAL WALKER
As this is my first year at UCSC, my involvement in FSA includes being a part of a KAMP family, (Davao fam- WOOT WOOT) volunteering at ASF as a mentor and help with set up crew, and I am currently taking the Pilipino Historical Dialogue course. When I think of FSA, the first thing that comes to mind is “home” and “family.” My first introduction to FSA was midway through the first quarter, and I can still recall how taken aback I was by how welcoming all of the members of FSA were, with arms outstretched and heartfelt intentions for every single member to learn and grow academically, culturally, and socially. College years pose a challenge for all, and having FSA is like having a second family within my new home at UCSC.
When I had first learned of ALAY, I immediately had my heart set on becoming a part of the magic behind the literary journal. I would not define myself as the artsy type, but I will say that I have knack for layout design and bringing other people’s artistic visions alive through the literary journal, online publication, and within the FSA community. I would love to collaborate and come up with more ideas to publicize ALAY so that all can appreciate the talent these individuals have to offer. I feel as though art is extremely important, and if I can inspire self expression in others that think they aren’t the cookie cutter artist, than I couldn’t be happier. I absolutely love reading short stories/poetry, and I have a great appreciation of art in all forms, whether it be drawing, painting, media, photography, or even street art. Through ALAY’s dedication to art and self expression, boundaries can be broken down, and ALAY has the ability to enhance cultural and artistic appreciation.
My goals for ALAY, if elected, are to promote cultural awareness and appreciation through the arts. A person doesn’t have to be Da Vinci or Picasso to be an artist; and I want to foster creativity and help every individual learn and value the arts. FSA is built on the foundation of providing the Filipino community with valuable learning tools at UCSC. I feel as though my personal goal of assisting in promoting community member’s art ties into the goal of diversifying and helping the FSA community learn and grow through an artistic outlet.
Last year, I was my high school newspaper’s editor in chief, and I have been a part of publications since I was in middle school. I feel as though I thrive in collaborative efforts (as I know ALAY core consists of three members). I am very open to new ideas and concepts, and I can assure you that I will give my all to make sure that ALAY is widespread and a publication people cannot wait to see. I am very diligent about deadlines, while having an innate attention to details, and I will advertise and outreach to different aspects within the community (the more diverse ALAY’s work is, the better, in my opinion). By being a part of various publications, I’m very familiar with Adobe InDesign and Photoshop, and I have dabbled in online website publications with media, also. I want to make ALAY more all inclusive, by engaging FSA members in various art workshops throughout the school year. (An example might be hosting a ‘paint your stress away’ event, or think about a collaborative mural for FSA, perhaps.) I want to generate curiosity, engage FSA with the arts, and bring out the voices from within the artists and make them heard.
- JASMINE ROSARIO
Hi, my name is Jasmine Rosario, I’m a first year from Oakes, and I’m running as a coordinator for Alay. Being new this year to FSA, so far I’ve been a participant to a majority of the events that are held here at UCSC. It all began with ASF during my senior year, when I was exposed to this type of environment that the Filipino Student Association offered. FSA, and the community that is tied with it, has been the one place that I can go to and feel comfortable in. Because of FSA, I was welcomed to join a couple aspects and be a part of the organization: I was retained with my school work in KAMP, I learned how to ballroom dance in Kasama, and I did little bit of volunteer work with ASF 17. I look forward to being involved more in FSA during the next three years that I’m here.
I’m applying for the position as an Alay coordinator because I want to become more than just a member of FSA community. I really just want to be in it! I want to be a leader and out of all the positions I feel that Alay resonated more with me because it was a position that is totally different and new and something I would enjoy. For me personally, self-expression has been something that I used to always rely on. I’m not much of a talking person, but writing has been something that just clicked with me. It was something that I didn’t have to worry about how it sounded, if it made sense, and I could just write down whatever and it was over with. This has made me become even more excited to become a part of this aspect because it is super relatable. I feel like I would have the dedication to be a part of this community.
Alay is a place for self-expression, so one of my goals would be to become a welcoming environment that anyone in the community can feel safe in. I’m also excited to put hard work into an Anthology that expresses the voices from within the FSA community. This relates to the student organization because FSA serves to be a resource to the students in our community. And Alay is there to express our identity and experiences, through our diverse outlooks.
To be honest, this will be one of the first positions that I’m running for. I haven’t been part of any student organizations in the past, nor have I had the dedication to run for anything in high school or in college yet. So far, FSA has been one of the only communities that I have ever felt a part of. However, I’m excited to say that I’m looking forward for Alay as being that transitioning positions as a leader.
- BEVERLY ABAD
Hi, I’m Beverly and I am an attentive first year who immediately decided to make the most of her college experience. This meant taking advantage of the opportunities that are presented to me. UCSC’s Filipino Student Association encouraged me, not only to be a leader, but also a volunteer and friend for others. This year, I submitted to ALAY’s anthology and volunteered for A Step Forward. Along the way, I learn from my mentors in the Kuya-Ate Mentorship Program. I am also a member of FSA’s acapella group, Isang Himig. I chose to apply as a coordinator for ALAY, because I respect all medias of self-expression, and I want to stress the importance of publication. Not everyone has this privilege, so I value what ALAY can provide for publishing artwork. One of the goals I hope to accomplish as coordinator is to create more events that showcase hidden gifts and talents of several individuals. By doing so, both FSA members and non-members can recognize the influence and powerful impact of individuality. Diversity, just like unique talents, is an incredible gift. I believe ALAY can teach others to embrace differences. Leadership skills include three years of student council experience, along with event planning, and art classes.
KAMP
- CHRIS ARELLANO
My involvement in FSA began when I participated in ASF 16. As a senior in high school, I had never anticipated that I would be so deeply involved in FSA my first year of college. My FSA involvement this year consists of IH, PDT, KAMP, and many of the events held throughout the year. Attending FSA gatherings has always been something I looked forward to, and although I wasn’t too close to anyone at first, I had made it a goal to befriend each and every member of the community. With that, I took a chance on auditioning for IH and PDT, and was lucky enough to be a part of 2 of the many amazing aspects FSA has to offer. I grew more and more attached to this community with each practice and event I attended, and soon I began to realize how special this community was and how much it meant to me. It was a space that pushed me to grow as a student, as a friend, as a leader, and as a person in general. Within the course of a year, FSA has gone from just another student organization, to one of the driving factors of why I WANT to push myself to succeed as a student, as a caring friend, and as a leader.
KAMP has done so well in fulfilling its goal of retention through creating a community that resembles a family dynamic. I personally take that goal of retention and family very seriously, and I have tried my best to help foster that type of environment for those around me, whether it be in FSA or elsewhere. I sincerely care about others around me, and I try to show that in my day to day interactions with everyone. This is why I chose to apply for this position, because I strongly believe that as a KAMP coordinator, I can better show my care and devotion for those around me by serving as a role model who emulates qualities of an older brother or mentor.
My main goal if elected is to recreate the sense of belonging that KAMP maintains in its families. I hope to instill a genuine sense of family and a desire to spread this family bond beyond the KAMP community. By holding more events that build this bond between families, I think that KAMP can continue to nurture lasting relationships that motivate students to stay retained and become advocates for retention for those who are not associated with retention groups on campus. I want to advertise the wide variety of resources and opportunities around campus to KAMP so that families can reach out and take advantage of everything the campus has to offer. I feel that by providing small scale events more frequently like booking study rooms in the library, holding picnic days, and hikes are all that is needed to create this strong connection to KAMP while staying within budget and utilizing the resources around campus. KAMP has a huge responsibility in preserving the FSA community through retention, and by maintaining the family dynamic in KAMP, I hope that by achieving these goals FSA will continue to be a space that empowers others and creates a home within its members. I myself am a testament to this, as KAMP has kept me retained and allowed me to continue building meaningful friendships within FSA. I hope that I can become an agent in fulfilling this responsibility as KAMP coordinator.
I developed most of my leadership qualities through various positions I’ve held throughout my time in high school. A few notable experiences I have are as a youth ministry leader at my church, being a member of student government in high school as well as College Nine Senate currently, and as a tutor for math and writing in high school. As a Youth ministry leader, I facilitated many discussions, organized retreats and community service projects, and served as a mentor toward the youth. In student government in high school, I regularly attended meetings for planning campus events and represented the school at public events such as graduations and open houses. As a member of the College Nine Senate, I participate in discussions pertaining to activities and projects being held at College Nine as well as approving funding requests for student organizations. As a tutor, I took on a deeper, more personal level of mentorship by motivating my students to strive to achieve their academic goals and develop self confidence in their abilities that would translate into their other activities. These experiences and many others have developed many qualities that may be useful as a KAMP co and mentor such as patience, initiative, being organized, dedication, and a passion towards the community I serve.
- CHRISTIAN GALLIGUEZ
I am currently one of the Tech Crew Co-Coordinators of FSA Core. I am also a member of the Pampanga KAMP family. I attend as many large and small events as I can, and participate in Core meetings. FSA is a community that is a family away from home. It’s a space where I can feel safe and welcomed by my peers. It is important to me and I wish to continue my service in FSA Core.
I am applying to this position because I feel that I can work well in team to organize families, host study jams, and plan various events. I want to give back to the KAMP community for everything it has done for me this past year. I also feel that KAMP would help me grow as a student leader by allowing me to hone my organizational skills.
My goals are to promote retention and organizational skills more, while continuing to introduce a sense of family in the FSA community.. I especially want to work with ASF to further the effectiveness of the current KAMP/ASF collaboration aspect. One thing I want to try is a sort of year long KAMPetition, something simple to allow members to feel closer to their families while interacting with other families.
I have extensive experience in student organizations, which would help planning events like KAMP Dinner, Study Jams, and KAMPetition. I am aware of my personality and hope that I can utilize it to bring energy to KAMP. In a wider perspective, I feel that being a current member of Core, I feel that I can be a stronger member next year after knowing the general feel of Core meetings.
- ROMAN PATUNGAN
Hello, I’m Roman Patungan and I’m a 1st Year Human Biology major from College Ten. I am currently a member of the Leyte KAMP family and Pagkakaisa Dance Troupe. I came up on ASF 16 and volunteered during ASF 17. I was lucky enough to come up on ASF. If I didn’t, I would not have heard about the FSA community. Through this community, I have bettered myself both academically and personally. The FSA community has acted as a support system to me while transitioning into college. Through this community, UCSC has become a home away from home. FSA is a community that promotes unity and does so by providing a space where everyone can find their place, much like I did.
I am applying to this position because I want to be able to contribute more not only to KAMP, but also to the FSA community. I want to set a good example to others academically because the root of retention is to stay in this university and I believe that this is one of the main responsibilities of being a KAMP coordinator. I want to help retain students not only through academic resources but also with support through the things that KAMP offers, like families and mentorship. Through personal experience, having families and an older sibling greatly influenced the way I grew socially this year. My family has encouraged each other to do well both academically and personally. I want future students involved in the Kuya Ate Mentorship Program to have the same experience, if not better.
If elected, my main goal or KAMP is to help others feel the sense of belonging that I felt when I was spending time with my own KAMP family. To reach this goal, events should be held to help KAMP families form bonds with each other. Often, families belong to different aspects of FSA, or not belong in an aspect at all. Everyone is somehow connected to KAMP, and being able to have more events, such as study jams, dinners, or family days, will unite not only the KAMP families, but also the FSA community as a whole. I would also make it a goal for KAMP to collaborate with other aspects to make sure everyone is not having trouble with school. The strong bonds formed in these KAMP families and within the community in general are what motivate students to retain themselves in this university. It gives them another reason to stay and contribute to the bigger FSA community.
I was involved with a youth group called YFL during middle school and high school. During my involvement with them, I have led a retreat and I was an area head in the Fremont/Hayward/Union City/San Jose area. During that time, I was responsible for planning the retreats, meetings, and checking up on members to make sure everyone was doing fine. Since the start of me being area head and leading the retreats, I have learned to put others before myself instinctively. Caring for others had been my primary responsibility along with planning meetings for them to bond and grow as a community. I believe this leadership experience will help me because not only do I have experience planning big events for a community, but it has also taught me to put the community before myself. Being selfless will allow me to be totally committed to this program and motivate me to do what ever it takes for the community to feel more unified.
ACADEMICS
- ALEX TERANISHI
1. I have been apart of tech crew as well as kamp in my freshmen and sophomore years of college. I feel as if UCSC is not one of the best college environments for new students to make friends in their own college community. FSA has been one of the few programs in my college experience that has allowed me to meet new people. FSA is more than just a student organization to myself; it has become more of a family of friends. I would hope to extend the welcome I have been given to future students through the class.
2. To be honest, at first I did not have any intention to run for the position as a teacher for PHD. Brian and Katrina really inspired me after my quarter of taking the class. I feel as if the issues that they touched upon really hit close to home because some of the topics and issues brought up in class could be related to my own life. I learned things that I had never known about Filipino history as well Japanese history, which is my own ethnicity. As the course progressed, Brian and Katrina really led the class into learning environment were everyone became comfortable with expressing their own opinions openly. If elected, I would hope to do the very same for my own students.
3. If elected as a teacher for PHD, my goals would be to give a complete overview of the Filipino history to my students to the best of my abilities. I know that my actions as a teacher would not only represent myself, but the whole FSA community as well.
4. I know that I come across as sort of a goofy and immature guy but I know how to act serious in times that need be. Throughout high school I had to put together a series of community service events for my volleyball team as well as leading them. For my fraternity Pi Alpha Phi in college, I am part of cabinet as well as secretary for the entire organization.
- KAINOA TAYABAS-KIM
1. Please explain your involvement in FSA and what does FSA mean to you?
I have only recently been active with FSA through my involvement with tech crew. But with that interaction, it has motivated me to make greater efforts in being involved within FSA. After taking the PHD class this past winter, I feel closer to my Filipino heritage and know I still have a lot to learn/experience. Being more involved with FSA would help me understand a culture I have felt distanced from since I can remember.
2. Why are you applying for this position?
I feel as though I have a lot to offer. Being a second generation Filipino who does not speak any Filipino dialect nor celebrate much of any Filipino culture, I have a different perspective on things than others who are not in the same position as me. I want to be able to share my story through teaching a class about the history of the Philippines and its people.
3. What are your goals for the position/aspect if elected? How do these goals relate to FSA as a whole student organization?
My main goal would be to encourage others to learn about their history and how it is relevant in today’s society as well as in other cultures. FSA promotes learning about Filipino culture, but it does not stop there. While it is important to know one’s culture, it is equally important to be able to relate it to another.
4. Leadership qualities that you posses that would help you with this position and any relevant experiences you have (ie planning events, working with organizations, being a member of other student organization)
In high school, I worked as in intern for a non-profit youth organization. I worked under the Filipino site (Filipinos for Affirmative Action) where I facilitated meetings and taught others what was taught to me. I work well with others, am not afraid to speak in public, and always willing to learn.
- ALYZZA DE CASTRO
My involvement for the 2012-2013 school year included KAMP, a volunteer for ASF 17, and enrollment in PHD (Pilipino Historical Dialogue). For ASF 17, I volunteered for the welcome set-up, welcoming group, KAMP mentor and sleep chaperone. FSA is one of the main reasons for my being at UCSC. I came up on ASF 16 knowing nothing about UCSC. After the rain, sweat, tears from the program, UCSC grew on me, not only because of the campus, but also because I felt like I had a place on this campus, a space I was familiar and comfortable with. ASF made the transition into college a lot less scary because I knew I had people to go to if I ever needed anything, a community that would support me, and act as a second family to me.
Coming from a high school that was widely diverse, had an ethnic studies department, have taken a Filipino Heritage Studies (FHS) course Junior Year, and coming up on ASF 16, I knew that I wanted to be involved in FSA. Of the many aspects and positions, one that I feel most passionate about is academics coordinator. I feel that it is important to know about this history, history that is vaguely taught in high school or present in textbooks and why Filipino culture is the way it is. FHS offered me a whole new perspective about what it means to be Filipino, the Philippines and the Filipino people, as well as relating the history to the history of my own family. Seeing as UCSC does not have an ethnic studies department, I feel it’s important to have a course outside of mathematics, sciences, etc. that is more relatable and unique compared to lectures as PHD is student lead, more interactive, and able to learn from peers’ stories and experiences. To be involved in the process of facilitating a class would help to spread this knowledge, to continue the offering of this class, and hopefully one day have it become a course to be taken for a grade, as well as a GE.
My goal for this position is to provide knowledge of Filipino history, a history that has been lost and is unknown by our generation. As a student-lead class, it helps to reconnect the community in a different way by comparing family histories, sharing stories, thoughts, opinions, and to learn about cultural differences, without the presence of a professor. Aside from performance aspects and social aspects, this is a chance for Filipino history to be heard and learned. If elected, I would incorporate interactive activities, as well as documentaries, and generate conversations about how this history has affected one’s family’s life. I want to create a common bond and realize the similarities amongst everyone, even if not identified as Filipino. FSA is about bringing the community together and doing that by learning the history will create an even stronger knowledgeable community that will go on to spread what has been learned.
Leadership hasn’t always been easy for me. Seeing as I was shy, I never took the step forward to have my voice heard. But that’s all changed. I’ve planned community and school events, I was the yearbook editor, a part of leadership in high school, in a Filipino organization back home, mentored incoming high school freshmen, taking Filipino Heritage Studies in high school, and more. I know that even with the little amount of leadership qualities that I have, I will work towards being the best coordinator that I can be and making PHD as successful as it has been.
- ANGELICA HERRADURA
Hi! I’m Angelica Herradura and I’m very interested in running for one of the Academics coordinators for the 2013-2014 school year. I was introduced to FSA my first year here at UCSC, and I can honestly say that the community has welcomed me with open arms. It made me feel a sense of a home away from home. The feeling of being at home and having a second family became even stronger when I participated in PCC my first year. It was a life changing event to see how the story line of PCC, of any year, has been interpreted by every participant in their own way. We all come from different backgrounds and we all walk a different path. That is why we all have our own interpretation of the stories told. No matter how connected we are with our roots, we seem to find pride in what we do and who we are. That is what FSA means to me; this community encourages me to be proud of my culture and to be proud of the struggles my people have gone through.
I want to be a part of peoples’ journey to reconnecting with their roots and learning more about our culture. Just as how PHD and FSA has done for me. Being one of the Academic coordinators would enable me to do so. I also want to continue the legacy of opening up peoples’ minds to things about our culture and history they were never aware of. If elected, one of my goals is to provide more knowledge about our history, beyond the textbooks, to not only the students in PHD but to the whole FSA community as well. Another goal of mine would be to encourage students to educate us about their roots and own family struggles. Since FSA supports our different backgrounds, I feel that talking about our unique stories will unite us in solidarity.
I believe that I am organized and work well with others which would be key to coordinating such an important aspect. I have been in leadership all of my four years in high school so I understand the struggle of planning, executing, and organizing. I also understand that a lot of time commitment is required to play my role efficiently, and I am willing to give my time and heart into this position.
- DEVON DEVERA
FSA is not just a school organization, but also a family. It is a family that stays true to its traditions and heritage. It is nurturing one that extends open arms to all, no matter the background of the individual. This is a family that I am proud to be a part of. Although I am not an active member, I would like to pay it forward for the support that FSA has given me. In hopes to support my beloved organization, I run for the position of Academics.
“No history, no self. Know history, know self”. This was an empowering quote from my high school Filipino Heritage Class. Knowing who you are and your people’s history will only further your individual identity. I wish to facilitate Pilipino Historical Dialogue in the upcoming year. I will strive to educate and share the rich history of the Philippines. I feel that it is important, not only to teach what happened about the Philippines’s past, but it is equally important to relate it other countries as well.
My upmost goal of this position is to bring together a tighter sense of the Filipino identity and community in a classroom. I feel that many Filipino Americans today know little to none about their people’s history. The Filipino history is rich, but unfortunately the knowledge is not being passed on from generations. Knowledge is no good if it is not passed on, as the knowledge would die off with the person who holds it. Consequently, many will not have their own sense of identity or a sense of self if this information is not shared within families and communities. On the other hand, I will share all the truths, from glorious to disturbing, about the history of the Philippines with the class.
Confidence. Confidence will help a facilitator get the job done and lead the success of the class. I come from a high school that has its very own ethnic studies department with a teacher who strived to establish this for our school. He and I strive to educate our local communities back home. With my inspiration to become a community leader like him, I took slow but steady steps to help the community. I have led various workshops, led music ensembles and even coached Little League Baseball. Becoming a leader doesn’t happen over night, as it is a process I have patiently acquired. I am ready to apply my leadership skills to the success of the class I will teach.
ASF
- KRIS LAPU
Hello my name is Kris Lapu and I would like to run for A Step Forward 18. For the past two years I have been an active member of FSA. I learned more about my culture through dance through PDT, I discovered that not only old people did ballroom dancing through Kasama, I had a family away from home with KAMP, and I was able to be a role model as a volunteer for ASF. This year, I decided to take the position of Historian and I learned what the responsibilities of being a core member was. Being a member of FSA has definitely helped me step out of my comfort zone and take risks by taking on a leadership role.
Ever since I came up on ASF 15, the Filipino student association has welcomed me with open arms. I love the goal this program has for students and it motivates me to become a better role model for my peers. For the last two years being a volunteer for ASF has been the most rewarding experience in my college career. Being a “night owl” committee head, a floater, a sleep chaperone, and a ice breaker facilitator was just a stepping stone that made me realize that I am passionate about taking on the position as a coordinator. I want to be able to be apart of this amazing legacy by being an advocate for choosing higher education. Since our campus isn’t as diverse, I want to show the community as well as the participants that anything is possible; from what I mean by that is I want people to see how much of an impact students can make just by running this program on their own, despite the struggles we have faced in the past. If elected, I want to continue to promote diversity as well as higher education. I would also like to keep the collaboration with PHD and KAMP throughout the weekend because it helps showcase different aspects that FSA has to offer. I would also like to improve the program by having more time for the coordinators to get to know the participants as well try to manage time better throughout the weekend by having multiple back up plans and possibly incorporating more collaborative activities with ORALE and DHE.
Being historian this year helped me grow as a leader and manage my time wisely. Throughout middle school and high school I took on positions in the associated student body, so when I went to college I wanted to take on a bigger role. I am able to work well and communicate with others effectively. I understand how much hard work and collaboration goes in to this program, and I feel like I can contribute my leadership skills and idea to this space.
- BEVERLY MENDOZA
My involvement in the Filipino Student Association (FSA) began when I was introduced into the community as a participant in A Step Forward (15) in 2011. Since that day, the people I have met and connected with have influenced my involvement in FSA. I was motivated to become involved in the Kuya Ate Mentorship Program as a general mentee, A Step Forward (16 and 17) as a volunteer, and in the Pagkakaisa Dance Troupe as an intern and a dance team member. Alongside with these commitments, I allotted myself the time to attend general body/community meetings. I also held the Media Relations position for FSA Core 2012-2013, and was an intern for Pilipino Cultural Celebration. To me, FSA means being part of a community who promotes individualism yet enjoys collaborative events. FSA is a great program which provides resources that are both academic and personal.
I am applying for the position of A Step Forward because I see this as the perfect opportunity to give back to the community which has already given so much to me. I fell in love with the program through the hard work that was put into it when I had come up as a participant, and I would enjoy it if I was given the opportunity to positively influence another person into pursuing higher education, possibly here at UC Santa Cruz. I believe being involved in this position can enhance my opportunities to help with FSA by applying the skills I already have, and those which I will gain. If I am elected, I have goals which I would like to achieve. Some personal goals are to enhance my leadership skills by applying my past knowledge. Other goals include the idea of helping FSA build a stronger community by outreaching to incoming students and promoting higher education. If elected, I will apply my whole heart and dedicated everything I can for the maximum potential of success of the event and the program’s purpose. I strive to maintain the highest levels of integrity and innovation in the promotion of leadership, scholastic excellence and community. My goals would also encompass helping and fostering growth to each other—my potential co’s and the FSA community—by being a mediator, a source of educational help and a friend for those who are in need.
I have past relevant experience for this position. I have obtained knowledge through my involvement in my high school’s Digital Business Academy (DBA), where I eventually became an officer for during my Junior and Senior years of high school where I coordinated events. DBA has helped me enhance my public speaking skills and working in the business world. Also, through the three years of involvement, I was required to help recruit new members each year by personally outreaching to them. Also, I held a supervisor position where I had to watch over elementary school students for a summer enrichment program in 2010. Another relevant experience for this position was a part of my leadership experience when I held and was elected for the positions: Technology Commissioner, School Leadership Team (SLT) and School Site Council (SSC) member as part of our Associated Student Body (ASB) during High School. In ASB I coordinated the Apollo Awards and a Health Fair. The Apollo Awards Assembly at my school of 3000+, was one of the few events where the Unified School District Board of Education were guests of. The event required multiple daily meetings with faculty and the Principal to get paperwork done. I have great knowledge in filling out paperwork and gained communication skills through this position. While planning this event, I also had to coordinate meeting with the 160+ students who were recognized at this event, ensuring that they are aware of the event and all the paperwork that they needed to turn in. I had a committee team which helped with the fine details, such as contacting performers, double checking paperwork, and decorations.
I know that taking up such a position would require a lot of dedication in order to complete any tasks given. I understand that it requires a lot of diligence and responsibility. If elected, I will commit my 100% in the work that I am expected to produce. I will make sure I put effort and time into my work, while using my time management skills to balance my personal and academic life as well.
- Jessica Elizabeth Siasoco
- KAYSI WHEELER
FSA to me represents a community that promotes the Filipino culture through events and retention programs. For me personally it also represents a family and a safe space for me to feel comfortable in and it provides a support system for the members of our community. FSA has been a great resource for me academic wise and for personal growth, creating an environment where I can grow as a leader and to learn more about the history and culture of the Philippines as well as retain and promote higher education.
When I first came up on ASF15, I was scared because I knew no one and I had no idea what UCSC was like. By the end of ASF15, I felt like I had a second family to rely on and I made one of my biggest decisions in life by coming to UCSC because of ASF and the FSA community. The community made me feel genuinely accepted for who I am and show the support to transition from high school to college. Once I came in the fall, I became involved in the FSA community through KAMP and ASF and attending different events that FSA put on throughout the year. Because I can’t really dance or sing I participated more in the non- performing aspects, but still supported the performing aspects by attending their shows. By the end of the year I felt like I was involved, but not enough. ASF was a big part of the reason why I chose to come to UCSC so I wanted to be more involved in the upcoming ASF, and give back what I experienced through the program.
Being the intern for ASF17 was one of the best opportunities I have been given to get more involved in our community as well as learn how to become a better leader. I learned from my co’s how to plan ASF, work with other orgs, and also balancing everything going on in your personal life. The amount of dedication, hard work, and commitment that goes into making ASF a successful program is tremendous and that is why I would love to be next year’s co- coordinator of ASF18. The love I have for this program has grown so much over the two years I’ve been here and being able to coordinate alongside with other members of our community would be a rewarding experience and being able to be part of such an amazing legacy of promoting higher education and retention would be a great honor.
One of my biggest goals for next year would be going beyond the weekend to collaborate with the other two orgs, DHE and ORALE, as well as their mother organizations. I feel the three organizations need to be more unified and thus will create a bigger community of color on campus that supports one another throughout the year and not just SIO weekend. Another goal for next year is working more in depth with the colleges of UCSC, making them more aware of our SIO programs and have the other communities get more involved in our programs to make it more of a campus effort to show our participants what UCSC is like.
I feel my experience with ASF these last three years, as a participant, volunteer, and as intern will give me a well-rounded awareness of what it takes to plan and coordinate ASF18 and the time commitment. I am organized, can time manage well, and work well with others as a team player. I have gotten to know more about the resources on campus that would benefit ASF18. My biggest reason for wanting to be coordinator for ASF18 is because it’s a way to give back to our community and to outreach to others outside of our community, and it has given me the sense of belonging here at UCSC and the love I have for the FSA community and this program has grown so much and will continue to grow in years to come.
- KENNY CHIEM
FSA is my home and is the community that brought me up to who I am now. I can honestly say I don’t really know what my college career would be like without FSA. As a second year, I was the Kuya Ate Mentorship Program co-coordinator as well as being involved with Haluan and PDT. Along with being involved in these aspects, I participated in amazing events throughout the year held by FSA (ASF and PCC). Although be heavily involved in many aspects of FSA was fun, what makes this community so great is the people or my family. Constantly giving me the support I need, academically and socially, FSA continues to be the community I strive to give back to and love.
Within the past two years, I have volunteered for A Step Forward and it has been such a humbling experience. For me, I have seen ASF make a great impact on not only lives of participants, but also the volunteers, the community and myself included. ASF brings our community together and shows how loving, caring and unselfish we can be. I love the meaning behind ASF and I want to help make ASF 18 be the best it can be. I cannot imagine myself doing any other position but being ASF 18’s co-coordinator.
If I were to become ASF coordinator, I will make sure to continue the legacy of what ASF has done for the past 17 years. I will strive to promote higher education for those who are underrepresented and help continue to show what makes our community so great. Also I want to make sure SIO programs are recognized for not only what we do for participants but also how we affect UCSC as a whole. In general, I just want ASF to be an unforgettable experience for participants and volunteers. I also want to make sure connections and bonds are made during ASF weekend between everyone continues to grow throughout the future.
Being a KAMP Coordinator this year has help grow as a leader and a person. I have learned to work with others as well as learning to be patient. In the coordinating space, I try to be the flexible one and make sure things run smoothly. As a KAMP coordinator I have dealt with many events, including large scale events in KAMP Meet N Greet and KAMP Dinner. I am very familiar with the SOAR and E^2 space and dealing the paper work. Being a leader in the FSA space has pushed me to become best I can be. I feel like there is so much to give back to and this space means too much for me to give up. I love this community and I’m willing to put my all into creating an amazing event in ASF.
PCC CO-CHAIR
- WISON CLASARA
My involvement in FSA began during my first year here at UCSC. Since my first year, I was highly involved in Haluan, and to my surprise, I was given the opportunity to coordinate it. During my second year, I was part of FSA Core 2011-2012 by having the Historian position. I am also an active participant in the Kuya Ate Mentorship Program, where I enjoyed encouraging retention and making personal connections with new and familiar faces. I enjoy supporting the events of each aspect, especially when it comes to A Step Forward weekend for which I was able to be a volunteer. This weekend taught me to inspire high school participants to obtain higher education. FSA consists of a tight-knit of passionate and dedicated individuals who foster community and retention, by helping and supporting each of its members grow both academically and personally. It is both a group and an individual; members have the ability to brainstorm unique ideas while the organization moves as whole towards its goals.
I am applying for the position of PCC co-chair because I am very passionate about its purpose and I honestly enjoy the time which I spent during my previous years as a performer during run-throughs and the actual production days. Although each performing and non-performing aspect is unique in its own ways of structure, organization and purpose, I love how all the aspects come together for the common goals of raising Filipino culture awareness and fostering a better sense of community and friendship amongst the groups. If I did have this position, I believe that I will be able to contribute to PCC greatly through hard work and by contributing many ideas in making the production come together.
Taking up such a position would require a lot of dedication and time, and I understand that this requires a lot of diligence and responsibility but if I am elected, I will truthfully commit myself into this position by giving my 100% in the work I am expected to produce. Though my predecessors have done much work, I share some of same goals such as raising cultural awareness within our organization as well as the UC Santa Cruz community. In addition, I would like to encourage more aspect interaction and activities. Doing so would strengthen relationships and reduce divisions amongst the aspects. These goals relate to FSA as a whole student organization because FSA is a supportive organization which strives to promote unity within its community, while retaining respect and understanding towards each individual’s varying opinions and contributions to the organization. Also, FSA encourages the raising of awareness for diversity by welcoming any person to be a member.
I believe I have the ability to handle this position due to my past experience being PCC intern. Having this internship has given me more insight into the logistical process and has prepared me for the coming obstacles that may arise. Being Haluan coordinator, I led a team of twenty to thirty individuals, who came from many different ethnic backgrounds, and nurtured their passion for dance, as well as encouraging them to learn about Filipino tradition. With the position of Haluan coordinator, I was able to be in PCC core which provided me with the chance to give the PCC co-chair some ideas for things such as the script, the socials, and other logistical items. I am competent and very decisive when it comes to making decisions, and I possess qualities such as integrity, responsibility determination, persistence, dedication and ambition, which would help me with this position.
- LEODEGARIO ANACLETO
Hello, my name is Leodegario Golez Anacleto.
I feel truly honored and humbled to have been nominated for the PCC Co-Chair position for the 2013-2014 school year. I am a Junior, affiliated with Oakes, and am currently one of the 2012-2013 Isang Himig Co-Coordinators.
1. I have only ever been in one performing aspect, Isang Himig, and have been involved in other FSA programs such as KAMP, ASF, and PCC. It’s not the most impressive list in terms of involvement in the FSA space, but I have taken all opportunities to put in my heart and soul into them. The beginning of my involvement with the FSA community began with ASF 14. It was reassuring to know that I would be coming to UCSC with a community that I could try to be a part of. Despite knowing that the FSA community was a community I wanted to involved with, it took some time before I could honestly call FSA a home. It took the effort of a couple people in IH and FSA to help me break out of my shell, but now that my third year is coming to an end, I am happy to be able to call this place my home.
FSA is a place where I feel like I can make a difference for the people on campus and others who don’t by promoting outreach and retention. It is a place where I can express myself through singing and music with people who love doing the same thing. It is also a place where I can just be myself and people will accept that awkward, obsessed gamer side I have. It is a place of inspiration because there are so many people who put their heart into dancing or making sure that we have a voice here on campus. The FSA space is a one-of-a-kind and it’s amazing to think that I get to be a part of it.
2. I am applying for this position because I want to continue what I sought out to do in IH but with the PCC community. I wanted IH to be a place where people can do what they love, make a family out of a community, and collaborate together to make a once in a lifetime experience. Plus, there are some amazing people that have helped and inspired me to get to where I am today. Though it’s so trite and has been said so many times, I really do want to give back to this community and do the same for others what has been done for me.
3. If elected, one of my main goals includes helping the performing aspects as well as the non-performing aspects through the year. I want to help make sure the aspects have a successful year so that we could have an even better PCC when the time comes. Another one of main goals is to bridge the gap between the aspects. Though it’s always a challenge to do, trying to get members of different aspects to interact with other people outside their aspect will help foster that PCC family and bring out the best in all of them. A third goal that I have is to continue this PCC tradition. Being a co-chair for PCC means being someone who wants to share not only the talent of the PCC cast, but also Filipino culture. PCC is a celebration of Filipino culture and it is an event where we, the PCC cast, can share that culture with the UCSC community. These three goals are similar goals we have in FSA. This organization takes care of its members by promoting retention so its members can participate in events like PCC. FSA is a place where the community that is open to everyone and tries to build a family space. Finally, FSA is an organization that also promotes Filipino culture with programs such as PHD.
4. As one of the current Co-Coordinators for Isang Himig 2012-2013 I have had experience in leadership within the FSA space. In the past year I made it a goal to demonstrate that I am a leader who is hard working and prefer to get work done ahead of time, a person who is able to speak in front of people confidently, and someone who is willing to listen to other peoples’ suggestions to better the group as a whole. I always try to help others and make sure that they are doing well and give them the time they need if they need to get work done. I find that communication is key so I always try to respond promptly to requests of other people. Though I haven’t branched outside of the FSA community too much in the past few years, I have strived to make sure that I put my heart into everything I do.
Thank you.
- LUKE ROMERO
1. My most recent involvement is being the PDT coordinator, entailing a set of responsibilities through a number of events in FSA and any influences that I have spread throughout the community. I’m also a KAMP head currently and in People Power. FSA is my excuse to act around all Filipino-like in UCSC. This organization keeps me happy everyday.
2. PCC is a large aspect of self-expression that we can have in campus. I want other people to be able to express themselves by being able to manage the event in order for it to continue on its legacy.
3. See #2. PCC gives a good color to FSA and it’ll help people have a livelier experience in UCSC. Perhaps I’ll be able to bring in something new to PCC. I’m always plotting on innovation and surprises.
4. See #1. My qualities for leadership is indescribable to me but I’m good at making things work and getting people to do what they have to do, while having a decent time.
- ALEJANDRA ROBINSON
Hello hello, my name is Alejandra and for the 2012-2013 school year I participated in FSA as one of the co-coordinators for Kasama Ballroom Dance Troupe. I worked hard alongside my co-coordinator to shape our team, share choreography and promote unity between our members. As a co-coordinator, I was driven year round to retain fellow UCSC students and help get them involved in the community by spreading cultural awareness, as well as cultural diversity, through a mutual excitement for dance. I value the FSA space, as for me it has provided a kind of support system that has helped me grow not only as a student, but as an individual. It has helped me gain a bit of confidence in myself, work on my leadership skills, form great friendships, and maybe most important to me, it has helped me re-light the fire to my passion for dance as my form of self-expression.
Because of how much being involved in the FSA community has helped me, I want to show my gratitude by giving back and helping others find their passions, form friendships, become better leaders and not only stay retained as students, but stay retained as motivated students; hence why I aspire to be a PCC co-chair. If given the opportunity to be a PCC co-chair I’d want to provide a warm, welcoming space where community members can explore the intricacies of their culture by way of a production that enables the expression of passion and creativity. I believe this to be important to FSA as a whole in that this organization is one that strives to not only promote unity, but empowerment by providing a voice for a diverse community.
Besides having the pleasure of being a Kasama co-coordinator, I’ve also had the joy of being a co-KAMP head for the Rizal family. My involvement within these two aspects specifically has aided me in becoming a stronger leader in such that I have better learned to communicate clearly and honestly, manage time more carefully, be resilient in difficult times, support new ideas, and how to compensate for a groups strengths and weaknesses. I’ve truly enjoyed my time with what have become my families away from home, and would love the opportunity to continue to help others as they’ve helped me. <3
EXTERNAL CO-CHAIR
- KATRINA BITANGA
At present, I am one of the co-coordinators of the Kuya Ate Mentorship Program, through which I have also been a KAMP head for this year and have been involved since my freshman year. Previously, I have served as one of the Academics co-coordinators for the 2011-2012 school year and taught the Pilipino Historical Dialogue class, which I took and later interned for the year before that.
My experience with KAMP this year given me a wealth of opportunities to re-think and redefine how I’ve conceptualized “retention”. Beyond the mere supply of institutional spaces, retention is defined by the relationships you develop with those who, like you, are trying to find themselves in college. These relationships are often cultivated once you find out that you share something in common with the person sitting next to you–be it college affiliation, major, a shared love for singing, a passion for dancing (be it traditional, ballroom, or hip-hop), a mutual excitement for performing soliloquies or speaking your truth through your poems on stage, or even sharing the same object of displeasure (like hearing the word “moist” or being allergic to cats). These are opportunities that you don’t necessarily get when you’re sitting in front of your adviser or sitting in the Financial Aid Office–these are chances that you can grasp when you’re at OPERS and someone on core is rushing at you to get you to check out the FSA booth, or when you’re at an audition for a performing aspect with the hopes of joining and getting involved, and these are chances you get when you have someone introduce themselves to you at a community gathering. During my three years here at UCSC, I have found that retention is everything FSA, and FSA has kept me grounded during the times I’ve felt out of place and lonely. FSA moves me in ways that I don’t even know how to explain.
If elected as co-chair for the 2013-2014 academic year, I would like to see the core develop the skills necessary to cater to our community. In particular, I want to be able to give the tools I learned as an intern with the Asian American Pacific Islander Resource Center to FSA core so that our programming and event planning can be more fruitful for outreaching to the freshmen who constitute our community. In addition, I want to help cultivate a better sense of activism for freshmen so that they too can get inspired to serve as a core member during their undergraduate years here at UCSC. More specifically, I would like to develop an alumni network so that students can see what the “real world” is like for those who have previously been part of FSA and to help build more connections so that graduation isn’t so terrifying a prospect as it’s usually set out to be.
Additionally, I have had the honor of serving on the Advisory Council on Campus Climate, Culture and Inclusion (ACCCCI) for this past year, and have listened to how the administration has responded to concerns about diversity on this campus. Having worked alongside Chancellor Blumenthal and the Dean of Students, I want to be able to give FSA and all of the amazing things we as an organization have to offer a stake in these conversations. The administration deserves to know what great student organizing can do.
In addition to my time as a core member for the past two years and having interned with AAPIRC for four quarters, I have worked as part of the Stevenson Event Center staff since my freshman year, presently as “Work Tech Lead”, and was a Stevenson Outreach Leader (OL) for Fall 2012 to help orient freshmen to the Stevenson and larger UCSC community. Additionally, I was a Stevenson Junior Fellow for Winter 2013, where I facilitated a class of 15 students alongside Stevenson Core staff.
