Blog Post #1
Why did I pursue higher education?
I chose college as my current path because I really wanted to explore my options and be able to have a chance to grow as a leader and travel before I entered the working world.
Why did I choose UC?
I chose UC because of the Co-op program, as well as it being so close to home. I also liked that they had so many opportunities to grow, especially with the Honors Program.
Why did you join ROAR?
I love being able to volunteer, as well as being very interested and passionate about UC. I was very influenced by my tour guides, and I hope that I can make the same impact for those who receive a tour from me.
Why do you think that diversity and inclusion poses a powerful impact in higher education today?
As someone who looks at different cultures to gain perspective, I feel like diversity is important because it allows you to learn from a perspective that is not your own. Also, in the design field, you want the opinions from the majority of your consumers, which means you want to see all of the different perspectives from those who could be represented in that population.
I chose college as my current path because I really wanted to explore my options and be able to have a chance to grow as a leader and travel before I entered the working world.
Why did I choose UC?
I chose UC because of the Co-op program, as well as it being so close to home. I also liked that they had so many opportunities to grow, especially with the Honors Program.
Why did you join ROAR?
I love being able to volunteer, as well as being very interested and passionate about UC. I was very influenced by my tour guides, and I hope that I can make the same impact for those who receive a tour from me.
Why do you think that diversity and inclusion poses a powerful impact in higher education today?
As someone who looks at different cultures to gain perspective, I feel like diversity is important because it allows you to learn from a perspective that is not your own. Also, in the design field, you want the opinions from the majority of your consumers, which means you want to see all of the different perspectives from those who could be represented in that population.
Blog Post #2
Did you feel like you had an option in your life to attend college? Why or Why not?
I feel that a college education is something that most people need in order to be successful in a workplace. There is a chance that you can be wealthy and successful without an education, but I knew that in order for most companies to hire me, I would need to gain the experience and knowledge that could only come from a college education.
What have you noticed has been the biggest challenge with adjusting to your time at UC?
The biggest challenge I have experienced so far has been managing myself and budgeting my time. As someone very involved on campus, it is important for me to be able to take care of my time to make sure that I accomplish everything that I need to within a week.
Would you consider yourself “privileged” in how your life has gone so far? If so, why? If not, why?
I think that I am very well off compared to many other people, but I would not consider myself privileged. I have worked hard to achieve everything that I have accomplished in my life so far. I worked hard to get good grades in school, and I am also managing a job on top of my other organizations I am involved with.
I feel that a college education is something that most people need in order to be successful in a workplace. There is a chance that you can be wealthy and successful without an education, but I knew that in order for most companies to hire me, I would need to gain the experience and knowledge that could only come from a college education.
What have you noticed has been the biggest challenge with adjusting to your time at UC?
The biggest challenge I have experienced so far has been managing myself and budgeting my time. As someone very involved on campus, it is important for me to be able to take care of my time to make sure that I accomplish everything that I need to within a week.
Would you consider yourself “privileged” in how your life has gone so far? If so, why? If not, why?
I think that I am very well off compared to many other people, but I would not consider myself privileged. I have worked hard to achieve everything that I have accomplished in my life so far. I worked hard to get good grades in school, and I am also managing a job on top of my other organizations I am involved with.
Blog Post #3
What are the most important things you’ve learned in your life?
I feel like the lessons I have learned about respect for others and for myself have been the most valuable for me. Being able to treat yourself with respect and respecting those around you are essential to being a kind, caring person that is valued in a community. I also feel that learning that a well-rounded knowledge is important to your education has really made me value the classes that I am taking and the different things that I have experienced within my life that I may not necessarily apply to my major and career.
What things did you learn in your life that led you to choose UC and your current major?
One thing my parents really stressed for me growing up was that you chose your career and major as a way to enjoy what you do while still being able to find a job and make money. With the Co-op program at UC, I really feel that I am able to do this because it gives me real work experience with fashion design while also showing me what career opportunities are possible.
Do you feel you are a “privileged” member of society?
I think I am very privileged because I had so many opportunities in life that other people were not able to get. I went to a highly-academic high school that prepared me very well to transition to a university after graduation, as well as being given access to scholarships and financial aid from my parents. I know many people in society do not have those opportunities.
If you had to change one thing about the way the admissions process was run, what would you do?
I think that for DAAP specifically, it would be more beneficial to have an option to submit a portfolio coming into the different schools within the college in order to receive scholarship.
I feel like the lessons I have learned about respect for others and for myself have been the most valuable for me. Being able to treat yourself with respect and respecting those around you are essential to being a kind, caring person that is valued in a community. I also feel that learning that a well-rounded knowledge is important to your education has really made me value the classes that I am taking and the different things that I have experienced within my life that I may not necessarily apply to my major and career.
What things did you learn in your life that led you to choose UC and your current major?
One thing my parents really stressed for me growing up was that you chose your career and major as a way to enjoy what you do while still being able to find a job and make money. With the Co-op program at UC, I really feel that I am able to do this because it gives me real work experience with fashion design while also showing me what career opportunities are possible.
Do you feel you are a “privileged” member of society?
I think I am very privileged because I had so many opportunities in life that other people were not able to get. I went to a highly-academic high school that prepared me very well to transition to a university after graduation, as well as being given access to scholarships and financial aid from my parents. I know many people in society do not have those opportunities.
If you had to change one thing about the way the admissions process was run, what would you do?
I think that for DAAP specifically, it would be more beneficial to have an option to submit a portfolio coming into the different schools within the college in order to receive scholarship.
Blog Post #4
Of the university’s goals that are set for your education, how can you now get more out of it?
I think that I can get more out of my University experience by really embracing the standards set by the university, particularly by looking at the accomplishments of alumni as inspiration to better myself to be more like them. Particularly for my major, looking at how students have gone on to major fashion companies, on to shows like project runway, and to see their success is a good way for me to get more out of my experience here.
What do you hope to do in the future to further educate yourself?
I hope to become a greater student leader, to become more involved with organizations that allow me to learn about areas outside of my major. I also want to travel around the world to learn about other cultures and allow them to influence me and my way of thinking.
Are there issues on campus with these goals being delivered?
I think that it is hard for me to join clubs not within my major because many organizations do not think to advertise in DAAP or to DAAP students, so I don’t feel like I am being made aware of many of the opportunities available to me on campus.
How do you work as a student leader to bring these educational goals to fruition for other students both inside and outside the classroom?
I work as a student leader in an organization called Design For America, which allows students to come together from different majors to learn about the design process and being taught how to do specific things that they might not have learned in their major, such as pitching an idea or how to ideate.
How do you learn from those around you?
I definitely take direction from the upper classmen in my program and organization, because they are very willing to share both good and bad experiences with me to help guide my path throughout the university experience.
I think that I can get more out of my University experience by really embracing the standards set by the university, particularly by looking at the accomplishments of alumni as inspiration to better myself to be more like them. Particularly for my major, looking at how students have gone on to major fashion companies, on to shows like project runway, and to see their success is a good way for me to get more out of my experience here.
What do you hope to do in the future to further educate yourself?
I hope to become a greater student leader, to become more involved with organizations that allow me to learn about areas outside of my major. I also want to travel around the world to learn about other cultures and allow them to influence me and my way of thinking.
Are there issues on campus with these goals being delivered?
I think that it is hard for me to join clubs not within my major because many organizations do not think to advertise in DAAP or to DAAP students, so I don’t feel like I am being made aware of many of the opportunities available to me on campus.
How do you work as a student leader to bring these educational goals to fruition for other students both inside and outside the classroom?
I work as a student leader in an organization called Design For America, which allows students to come together from different majors to learn about the design process and being taught how to do specific things that they might not have learned in their major, such as pitching an idea or how to ideate.
How do you learn from those around you?
I definitely take direction from the upper classmen in my program and organization, because they are very willing to share both good and bad experiences with me to help guide my path throughout the university experience.
Our Final Project
The Project:
Finding a way to promote diversity and inclusion on UC's campus through the admissions process by providing increased training for new tour guides, creating better representation of diversity and inclusive activities in the admissions preview, and creating a specialized pamphlet that specifically targets diversity and inclusion in regards to admissions and student retention.
The Three Project Deliverables:
A New Addition To the Training Binder: The new information in the binder should accomplish two things: clarify the role of the guide in the admissions pipeline and provide further information on the services on UC's campus related to self-identity. There will also be a requirement for new guides to attend a Diversity and Inclusion event on campus in order to push new guides to make new experiences and allows them to have more talking points on the services the the University offers, rather than just what buildings houses which services.
Modification of the Admissions Preview: The preview should not represent diversity as a statistic, but as an experience that encases all of the opportunities for students to take advantage of and the identity services our school offers. There will also be quotes and experiences from students involved with these related offices.
Specialized pamphlet for admissions regarding diversity and inclusion: By creating a small pamphlet or flyer that showcases the wide range of activities on campus, we could showcase UC's efforts related to shaping a diverse and inclusive campus to provide more detail about the services and centers the different offices in a single, accessible document. It will be placed in a convenient location at the front of admissions for both potential and current students to access.
Finding a way to promote diversity and inclusion on UC's campus through the admissions process by providing increased training for new tour guides, creating better representation of diversity and inclusive activities in the admissions preview, and creating a specialized pamphlet that specifically targets diversity and inclusion in regards to admissions and student retention.
The Three Project Deliverables:
A New Addition To the Training Binder: The new information in the binder should accomplish two things: clarify the role of the guide in the admissions pipeline and provide further information on the services on UC's campus related to self-identity. There will also be a requirement for new guides to attend a Diversity and Inclusion event on campus in order to push new guides to make new experiences and allows them to have more talking points on the services the the University offers, rather than just what buildings houses which services.
Modification of the Admissions Preview: The preview should not represent diversity as a statistic, but as an experience that encases all of the opportunities for students to take advantage of and the identity services our school offers. There will also be quotes and experiences from students involved with these related offices.
Specialized pamphlet for admissions regarding diversity and inclusion: By creating a small pamphlet or flyer that showcases the wide range of activities on campus, we could showcase UC's efforts related to shaping a diverse and inclusive campus to provide more detail about the services and centers the different offices in a single, accessible document. It will be placed in a convenient location at the front of admissions for both potential and current students to access.
