°®¶¹´«Ã½

Hometown: Fresno

Field of study: nursing

What epitomizes your °®¶¹´«Ã½ experience?

For me, °®¶¹´«Ã½ is EOP (Educational Opportunity Program). Before my freshman year, I attended Summer Bridge and made so many friends that I felt like I was at home on campus even before classes began. (Editor’s Note: The Summer Bridge program is five weeks of intensive academic preparation to develop new students’ writing, math and study skills.) The next summer, I was a peer counselor for Summer Bridge and this year, I worked behind the scenes, preparing students for the program and organizing events.

Have you joined any groups or clubs on campus?

No, but the African American community at °®¶¹´«Ã½ has become like my family. Getting to know these students erased the stereotypes I had. They urged me to research and value Africa’s history and helped me develop a sense of both my black and my white self.

Why did you decide to study nursing?

My dad got cancer when I was 13. I would go to the hospital with him and the nurses inspired me. They were so patient and caring. I saw that nurses help people deal not only with physical illness, but also with death and bereavement. As a nurse, I never want to judge or assume I know what people are going through.

Who on campus do you admire most?

That’s easy. It’s Beth Crawford, my EOP counselor. She goes above and beyond for her students. I was originally assigned another counselor, but my dad requested Beth after he met her at an orientation session. When I have questions, she has the answers.