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Spotlight on: Gina Garcia

Volunteer CSUF

McNair Scholar:

¿Que Pasa CSUF?

 

Meet McNair Scholar: Rocio Mendoza
Picture of Rocio Mendoza Rocio Mendoza is what all CSUF students should be…motivated.  The Nogales High School graduate came to Cal State Fullerton as a first generation college student, and yes, all the stereotypical labels apply to her.  However, as she would tell you, all those labels only fueled her overwhelming desire to succeed.  She is proud that she will be the first in her family to graduate from college with a degree in sociology because her three younger siblings now have a role model to look up to and no excuse to fail.

We sat down with Rocio to get an insight of how she made the most of her years here at CSUF.

QP: What was your first year of college like?

RM: It was scary and very intimidating.  I did not know what to expect and did not seem to fit into any of the social circle that I encountered.  That changed when I met some people from MEChA that have the same beliefs as I do – that education is the key to success for Latinos.

QP: How did you hear about the McNair Program?

RM: My advisor/counselor Janette Hyder, Student Academic Services/Student Retention Services, started to ask me what I was going to do after graduation.  I really did not know but knew that graduate school was the way to go. She advised me to look into the McNair Program because they would prepare me for graduate school.

QP: What have you gained by joining the McNair Program?

RM: I have gained valuable research skills, learned what it takes to publish a paper, better awareness of research responsibilities, exposure to faculty and opportunities to meet administration at graduate schools.  It has given me insight into what graduate school will be like.  Something I don’t think most regular students get to experience.

QP: Has joining the McNair Program taken away from other college activities you could have participated in?

RM: Maybe, but it has added so many more and has made me more dedicated person.  To be in the program you have to enroll in a full load of classes, conduct research, and in my case work part-time.  It takes a full commitment, but I think it will pay off in the end.

QP: How do you think the McNair Program benefits underrepresented students?

RM: It offers us exposure to experiences we might not have.  It offers support from your peers, who are experiencing the same difficulties that you’re encountering, and faculty members who encouraging you every step of the way.  The trips you take to visit graduate schools offer indispensable familiarity to what your future may be like.  It gives you advantages.

QP: What graduate schools did you apply to?

RM: UCLA, Cal State Long Beach, the University of Michigan, and the University of Washington.

QP: What is you ultimate goal?

RM: I want to one day teach, direct an EOP program, (re)write policies that affect access in higher education, and then direct my efforts towards writing grants and proposals for the support and development of programs that provide a positive and rewarding experience for all students in higher education, particularly students from underrepresented backgrounds.

CSUF is Nationally Ranked: 1st in Master's degrees awarded to Hispanics in Mathematics, 5th in Baccalaureate
degrees to Hispanics, 6th in Baccalaureate degrees awarded to Minority Students.