What made you choose UC San Diego? The connections I had in place made UCSD a smart choice as it allowed me to be integrated into a community of people who actually knew their way around the school. Also, I was lucky enough to be accepted into my major, and the school's efforts to promote diversity and inclusion were attractive. The area around the campus was another factor, but the online transition took that away from most of us.
What advice do you have for future Native college students? Check your email! Have those notifications on through your phone and make it a habit to keep your school email an open tab in your preferred browser. Keeping up to date on emails is the best way to avoid unexpected stressors and allows more of your capacity to be dedicated to your classes. Ultimately, you will save time, money, and most importantly, you will save yourself from unnecessary mental strain.
What is your favorite thing about UC San Diego? I have noticed a growth mindset in most of the staff and students here, especially when it comes to providing communities. The amount of resources for Native students through the campus provides a sense of comfort that is wholly new to me. Even if one does not actually attend these meetings, simply knowing that they are there can be enough. Being able to notice and reflect on that is a product of the taxing efforts of the people that came before us, so I am appreciative of the Native people who planted those seeds.
What do you like to do in your free time? I enjoy learning outside of school as well, especially if it's a skill that I might need to know in the future. However, this does not mean I only study concepts that pertain to mechanical engineering. The dense engineering course load allows little room in the classroom for a true understanding of diversity and justice, so it's up to the student to work on that aspect of themselves. To me, this comes most naturally in the form of reading books from authors of different identities than my own. When I'm not doing either of those, I have fun playing video games online with my friends.
