Andrea C.
University of California,
DAVIS
Bachelor of Arts in International Relations
Independence will help you push boundaries you thought you were incapable of. And having that sense of freedom, in a positive light, can help you become determined and motivated to reach your goals.
I also learned that no one would push you to finish deadlines and reach out and that you have to be responsible for creating these interactions.
What did you learn about yourself?
I learned that interacting and socializing with people is significant to learn more and become more open-minded about ideas whether it is educational or social.
I also believe I am more of an extrovert than an introvert as I usually go up to people for the most part.
What were your proudest accomplishments or highlights from attending college?
I was on the Dean's List as I maintained a high GPA of around 3.7 and also became involved in some clubs to meet new people and make new connections.
Rate your experience
at college:
Class of 2022
2020 & 2021 were extremely challenging under the confinement and constant menace of the Covid-19 pandemic. Hopefully there were some silver lining and lessons learned.
What were the highlights or accomplishments of your Senior academic year 2021/22, after all that hard time.
I was able to get a job after being unemployed during the covid-19 pandemic. I was also able to create new friendships after being secluded during the pandemic and was able to connect with my professors more by going to their office hours.
Even though my mental health declined during these years, I was able to take care of myself by going to the gym and eating well-balanced meals.
Thinking of the whole 4 years, what were the greatest challenges you faced? How did you overcome them?
The greatest challenge I faced is the decline of my mental health. I actually dealt with it on my own because I was not ready to tell my problems to someone like a therapist and my family is not familiar with these topics which makes it harder to reach out for help. But something I did was go out with friends and find hobbies that would occupy my time.
If you could go back in time 4 years ago, what would you tell your 18 year old self? If you could do-over, what would you do differently?
Something that I would tell myself is to not feel pressure to go to school right away and to take the time to figure out what your interests are. I also would want to let her know that she does not have to follow your parent's expectations.
What advice would you give to an incoming freshman?
To get involved!! It can be difficult if you have social anxiety like me but it is worth it to get out of your comfort zone and make connections! I wish I did not hold back as much during my first year (2020) but it was during covid, so that might be different. And do not be afraid of rejection when making friends because the right ones will stay by your side.
Now that you have graduated, have you formulated any new short term / long term goals?
For now, finding a good-paying job with benefits in California and hopefully it would sustain me enough to live here as I do not want to move back home to Arizona yet. I'm revising my resume and getting into hobbies like language learning again.
How did being a Bella Scholar contribute to the success of achieving your goals?
It was a big financial supporter as the financial aid packages did not provide sufficient plans for me, so Bella Scholar helped me achieve my academic goals in graduating. Elena and Anita were extremely supportive and were there for me when times were tough and I appreciate them so much!
What is your current job? and your dream job?
My current job is Payroll Assistant but I want jobs relating to technology. I am not sure what exact field yet.
My dream job would be in Advertising or Marketing in Tech Job; or Graphic Design in International Companies