Hey y'all! Our 3rd FIERCE+ Workshop was all about college! Here's some helpful information and the exact presentation for you, mentees, to keep in mind when it comes to your bright future! Included in it are general topics on financial aid. This presentation is here for you to be able to refer back to if you weren't able to take down any notes when the workshop was happening live. Also included is the video from our first years giving some advice they wish they knew before coming to UCSB. Unfortunately we weren't able to include the student panel that was held during the workshop, but if there are any questions you have, feel free to email us [email protected]! We are happy to answer any questions y'all have. Enjoy the presentation and video!
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Yes! Mentee apps are still open!
Due to unforeseen circumstances, we cannot hold the program in person at University of California, Santa Barbara. Instead, we will be holding the program entirely online! Since we will be transitioning to a virtual platform, our applications are now open to everyone! That means that other high school students who haven’t had the opportunity to experience our program are now able to apply this year! High schools that have been invited previous years and this year are still welcomed to apply! In order to apply, just look for "FORMS & APPLICATIONS" at the top right! DEADLINE FOR MENTEES APPLICATION IS DUE A WEEK AND A HALF FROM APRIL 11. If you have already submitted a mentee app for THIS YEAR, you do not need to worry about reapplying! Good luck, stay well, and stay FIERCE! It's been a WEEK since we last saw y'all! If you miss FIERCE and all your friends, mentees, and mentors--here's a video recap of last weekend.
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This is Kenneth. Kenneth is one of the Co-Outreach Chairs which means he is one of the people that basically coordinates the whole program. They choose committee, delegate tasks and work with each other to ensure the success of the program. He is our FIERCE papa. | When did you start planning FIERCE? Jess and I started meeting for FIERCE literally a week after we got elected into our position. In terms of hours we put in not too sure but we met often during our summer vacation break. Throughout the quarter we also got to meet up and to go over tasks. Why is FIERCE important? FIERCE is not only a program but a movement. This is something that i think that we have to continuously keep on pushing to make sure that students feel the empowerment of doing something amazing in their lives. This is so important to allow Filipinx high school student widen their thought process of college and Not only on the educational aspect but to also to make their cultural identity meaningful. Why do you put in the work that you do/What motivates you? Reading they mentees apps and making sure that this is the best possible experience for them. I feel that i have been blessed with an opportunity to then share my experience through college. I want to make it known that success is a jagged route that is attainable for anyone that works hard. How have you grown from this experience? I think this is has really taught me about passion and what determination can do. I have become more vocal and taking more initiative with task and delegating them among our members. What are you most excited about for this year's FIERCE? The thing that I am most excited for FIERCE is definitely see the mentees and meeting them. I am looking forward to the workshops, Jess and I have put lots of thought into revamping our workshops as well. |
This is Jess. She is the other Co-Outreach chair and she works very hard to make sure committee stays on track with tasks and answers all the questions we may have. She has been involved with FIERCE since her 1st year of college. She's our FIERCE mom. | When did you start planning FIERCE? Kenneth and I started planning F.I.E.R.C.E. the week after we got elected. Back in the summer, we were so hands on with planning that we’d have three hour meetings and constantly throw ideas around. Actually this never stopped. We still have really long meetings sometimes! (xDDD LOL <3) Why is FIERCE important? FIERCE is so much more than a 2-day program on our campus. It provides our community, the opportunity to explore their Filipinx identity as it intersects with American institutions. It empowers our youth to overcome their obstacles despite any socioeconomic barriers or self-doubt. Why do you put in the work that you do/What motivates you? F.I.E.R.C.E. is only in its fourth year and everyone who participates brings our mission to new heights. I am motivated by the passion surrounding this program. Our program is so impactful because it capitalizes off of this raw energy. It continues to be the most passion-driven project I’ve participated in. I WOULD DIE FOR F.I.E.R.C.E. How have you grown from this experience? Working on F.I.E.R.C.E. for almost the past two years has really pushed me as an individual. The nature of outreach is that you have to work with external organizations/schools who don’t see why what you’re doing is important. A lot of people will tell you you can’t do something or they don’t want to help. I’ve learned to push myself, to stand up for what I believe in, and to uphold the values of our mission despite these challenges. The opportunity to do all these things has been so humbling. What are you most excited about for this year's FIERCE? My favorite part about F.I.E.R.C.E. is that students join because they want to learn about higher education, financial aid, or the UC system but they leave learning so much more about their culture, community, and self. I’m excited for first-time mentors and mentees to transition from the former mentality to the latter. ( \ ;_____; / ) |
This is Nikki Sanjongco. She is one of the Co-Finance Chairs. She seeks out funds from on campus organizations and donors to make sure FIERCE is free for all students that attend. This year she got the program fully funded by May! She goes above and beyond her tasks and we are all so proud of her. | Why is FIERCE important? FIERCE is important because it's a way for us as college students to take everything that we've learned on the way to where we are now and transform those experiences into a program that seeks to strengthen Filipinx-Americans as an entire community. It's such a meaningful way for us to recognize how our education is a privilege while addressing flaws in the system, and then use that to support Fil-Am high school students so that we can build each other up and achieve success as a group of people. This program allows everyone involved to explore what opportunities they have now, the potential opportunities they can create for themselves in the future, and the opportunities they can provide for others. Why do you put in the work that you do/What motivates you? I do this because I have known so many amazing people who have big dreams and passions but struggled with the process of getting to higher education from high school, and it really hurt them to think they couldn’t achieve or be as great because of individual barriers or because they didn’t have correct/thorough information, and that’s something that I never want to see again. I just sometimes think about how lucky I am to be here and to feel like I belong somewhere (bc of KP) and I just want to show high school students that were like me that the opportunities are endless and there is so much to life!! Every time I think “oh wow this is a lot of work,” I remember that FIERCE is by far the most meaningful thing I’ve been involved in and how I can do something that has an impact on people outside of my own world and I can’t help but be motivated about it! How have you grown from this experience? I’ve grown in that I am so much more passionate about what I can do to help other people and the ways that I can improve other people’s worldview and it’s so inspiring to me! Also I’ve become more aware of the ways I am and have been both privileged and disadvantaged due to the different aspects of my identity/experience, which is super good to know. |
This is Ericalyn, she is one of the External Affairs chair persons. This means that her job is to get in contact with the schools that we outreach to and plan the presentation. She is only a 1st year college student but has already developed into a wonderful student leader and is always looking for ways to grow. | Why is FIERCE important? I gotta admit that I didn’t even see myself going to college let alone a UC post high school. It’s not that I didn’t want to go to college, I just had no idea what I was going to do once I graduated from high school. It was me who wanted to search up colleges… to search up what I needed to accomplish to get in and to ask my counselor what classes I should be taking. If I was given the opportunity to go to a university, spend the night in the dorms, go through academic AND cultural workshops to discover my options in higher education then I would say YES IN A HEART BEAT. FIERCE allows Filipinx students to rediscover their own culture and undergo workshops that opens the door to many possibilities, which is why this outreach program is so important. Why do you put in the work that you do/What motivates you? I applied for FCOMM for the purpose of giving back to my Filipinx community and connecting with people in KP that i’ve never met/talked to before. I don’t know man there’s just something about putting hours of work into a program like FIERCE (that you’re so passionate about) and then seeing it impact so many students’ lives that just makes you wanna go “Wow I did that” or “Wow I strive for people’s happiness.” What motivates me the most is not that I get to see myself grow as an individual, but I get to see others who are younger than me discover something that I had to go out there and look for myself. How have you grown from this experience? I’m not really sure how much I’ve grown because sometimes I forget to look back at the type of person I was before I applied and got the position on FCOMM. However, I definitely can say that at the first meeting I was very nervous and scared that I wouldn’t meet Jess and Kenneth’s expectations as an external affairs chair, but now I’m more confident in myself with presenting new ideas and handling important tasks. |
I hope in some ways this blog post helps showcase some of the work our committee members do and I hope to have inspired readers to go out there and work for the things that drive their passion.
If you’re an undocumented student, the most important thing we at FIERCE want you to know is that you CAN go to college. Our mission is to empower ALL Filipinx American high school students, so here are a few important words to our undocumented peers:
You have a lot of options.
Most universities across the nation accept undocumented students, and there is no federal law that prevents universities from admitting undocumented students. Only a few states, such as Arizona and Alabama, restrict access to undocumented students at their public colleges.
You can afford college.
In California public universities—the UC and CSU schools—undocumented students pay in-state tuition, which is much cheaper than out-of-state tuition. This is possible because of California state law AB 540 and is unrelated to DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals), which is a federal program.
In addition, through the California Dream Act, undocumented college students can apply for state financial aid, such as Cal Grants. Many schools have their own financial aid programs specific to undocumented students, like work-study programs.
There are also many private scholarships you can apply for that are specific to undocumented college students!
In addition, through the California Dream Act, undocumented college students can apply for state financial aid, such as Cal Grants. Many schools have their own financial aid programs specific to undocumented students, like work-study programs.
There are also many private scholarships you can apply for that are specific to undocumented college students!
You have a community waiting for you.
Most universities in California have programs, organizations, and resource centers for undocumented students. Not only do these resources guide you toward your education and career goals, they also help you find an inclusive, accepting community. Wherever you go, you are not alone, and there will be many people going through similar struggles as you who understand your experiences.
There are plenty of resources available to help you.
Since this post was only an introduction, here are a few websites that have extensive resources on college and employment options for undocumented students:
http://e4fc.org/resources.html
http://undoc.universityofcalifornia.edu/applying-to-uc.html
http://ab540.com/What_Is_AB540_.html
http://e4fc.org/resources.html
http://undoc.universityofcalifornia.edu/applying-to-uc.html
http://ab540.com/What_Is_AB540_.html
Happy Monday everyone! Did you know that FIERCE is less than one month away? Yup, that's right! The mentors are halfway done with training and are eagerly waiting the arrival of our soon-to-be mentees. This week on Meet the Mentor Monday, we will be meeting AJ, Luis, and Angela.
Meet Angela: Year: 2nd year Major: Bio psychology. Where are you from: The 916 (Elk Grove)!! Quote: “Here you leave today and enter the world of yesterday, tomorrow, and fantasy.” Why did you pick your major? I picked my major because it was a combination of all my favorite subjects from biology to psychology. It allows me to explore and concentrate more on neuroscience, the anatomy of the brain, psychopharmacology, etc. To me, the brain is just the most interesting and complex part of the human body, and there’s so many things that we have yet to learn about it. Hobbies/Interests: I’m a huge Disney fan!! From the beginning of my childhood, I still believe that Disney was the reason I became so creative, imaginative, etc. GURL, when I found out LEA SALONGA AKA ALSO FILIPINO AKA REPRESENTING ME THRU HER VOICE, I knew it was over for everyone. To add on, I am also really into music; I was the stereotypical middle school girl who made a cover to “Lotus Flower Bomb” and “Thinkin Bout You.” That literally defined my middle school career tbh. I didn’t have a ukulele to carry around, but if I were to carry my guitar around, I would have. What is the most fun part about college? I think the most fun part about college is the amount of independence I have. You’re not following anyone’s schedule; you’re setting your own time for what you want or for what you want to do. It’s come with choosing classes, when you want to hang with friends, when you should take a shower especially when you smell after pulling an all-nighter for your finals (procrastinating is my weakness!!). It gets dangerous when you’re on your own time, but trust me!! It’s under your control…..which is kinda fun? |
Meet Luis: Year and major: I am currently a third year transfer from UCSB, and I'm a Comm Major! Where are you from? I was born and raised in Manila, Philippines and moved to the Bay Area when I was 10 yrs old! Quote: One inspiring quote I choose to live by is "stay true to yourself" because in the end of the day, all you really have is yourself, so stay golden and stay true Hobbies/interests: My hobbies include all things fashion and makeup! I love dressing up and doing different makeup looks because it's always fun to use yourself as a canvas and be in touch with your creative side. I've also had over 10 different hair colors so you can say my wigs has been snatched a couple of times! Favorite part about college: My favorite part about college is meeting lifelong friends and really having the opportunity to figure yourself out and find out your interests. This time in life is wonderful because you're not too old to make mistakes but you're not too young to have no freedom! It's the best of the both worlds. It's kind of like the in-between, like purgatory...HAHA just kidding! Least favorite part about college: Definitely doing laundry. Ain't nobody got time for that...but my one tip to all of you is DON'T LET UR DIRTY CLOTHES PILE UP. |
Meet AJ: Year and major: 2nd Year Pre-Economics & Environmental Studies major Where are you from? I was born in New Zealand and I left when I was around 4 and grew up in the San Fernando Valley Quote: “Fear cuts deeper than swords” When I get scared about applying for a position or interviewing, I repeat this quote to myself like a mantra. And hey, I’m usually right. It wasn’t so bad after all. Why did you pick your major? I want to untangle those knots and help make sense of the world. I chose Environmental Studies because it’s such an interdisciplinary major that explains broad topics like social justice, climate change, and then down to the nitty gritty like biology and chemistry. I decided to add Economics to my course load because many of our environmental problems today are driven by economic interests. The more I understand, the better I’ll be. I hope to take what I learned here and carry it into a future career as an Environmental Lawyer. Interests/hobbies: Reading (fantasy, detective fiction), watching TV or anime (GoT, Westworld, TwD, stuff like that), ice skating and dancing. What’s the most fun part about college? The changes. Didn’t like yourself in high school? Reinvent. Want better grades? Fix ‘em. Want to escape helicopter parents? Hell yeah. I’ll be honest, I didn’t like my life much in high school. I felt stagnant, unmotivated, and uninspired. I didn’t want to expect too much when I came to UCSB. And I’m glad I didn’t. What I got here was so much more than I ever could have wished for. I found soulmates, independence, confidence and hope. If you were stranded on a desert island what 3 things would you want with you? Friend 1, Friend 2, Friend 3 ;( |
Thanks for tuning in for Meet the Mentors Monday #3! Based on what you just read, comment below who you think would win in a bake off between these three mentors!
If you have decided you want to attend college after high school but you're not sure which colleges to apply to, this is the post for you. Picking which colleges to apply to may be daunting. There are so many options out there so how can you possibly narrow them down to just a few? After all, you will be spending a lot of time and money there so you want to ensure you end up where you will feel the most comfortable. Here, I will break down key factors that you should consider before picking the school for you.
1. Location
Location plays a big role in your college experience. Do you want to be a school near a big city or would you rather go to a school in a small town? Do you want to stay close to home or do you want to move far away? When picking a school I knew I wanted to move away from home, but not too far. UCSB was the perfect distance from me because it is only a 5 hour drive. For some, that distance may be too far or too close. It is important to keep in mind how often you would want to come home during college and how much you want to spend on transportation. In addition, it is important to consider what the community is like at your college because you will be part of that community for quite some time.
2. Major
Does the school have your major or any other major you're considering? If you come in not knowing what major you want to be, pick a college that offers a wide range of majors that you can consider. For example, many students come into UCSB undeclared and later being disappointed when they find out there is no business major here. If you come in not knowing exactly what major you want to study exactly, that is fine. Just make sure the ones that you are considering are offered. In addition, not every major is made equally in every college. It is important to consider the quality of the department you want to go into at each school.
3. Cost of attendance
In general, out of state and private colleges will be the most expensive, then UCs and CSUs. With that being said, the most affordable option will be community college. The cost of attending a particular college can make or break your decision but it is important to know that there are many ways to get help paying for college. If you qualify for Cal Grant, for example, you can get all your tuition paid for. There are also many scholarships out there that you can apply for. In addition, the quality of a college education does not depend solely on how expensive it is. If going to a community college before attending a four year is the most viable option for you, it is perfectly okay! Your college education will be what you make of it.
4. Opportunities for getting involved
Another thing to consider is how many opportunities your potential college is able to offer you. Are the opportunities for research, internships or student involvement that you are interested in? For example, if you are interested in technology, you might want to consider a school near the Silicon Valley which is the hub of technology and innovation. Thus, there are many opportunities to get an internship or experience in technology. It is also good to research if there are any clubs or organizations that you might be interested in. Getting involved in your school and getting hands on experience may help you grow more than any class ever could.
With all things considered, you will ultimately get out of college what you put in. If you continue to work hard to attain knowledge and get experiences you will come out a better and more knowledgeable person. Always remember that what you get out of you college experience does not depend on the ranking or cost of your college. And when considering what colleges to apply to, remember that you will be spending the next few years of your life there so pick the ones that fit your personality and try not to let others' voices drown out your own preferences.
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Stay tuned for information about FIERCE, the Filipinx American community, and life after high school.
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