Alias: Jacky
Where were you born and where do you call home? Born and raised in southern California and still consider it home.
What did you get for your birthday? Flowers, chocolate, Missouri frame, and study snacks. My birthday always falls during winter finals, so the fact that people take the time to give me presents in the midst of stressing is greatly appreciated.
In which graduate program are you enrolled? I’m enrolled in the new Master’s program of Education in Counseling, Family, and Human Services (CFHS) with a specialization in Prevention Science.
What is your role with the Community Planning Workshop? I will be working with Jay Breslow and Jill Kornelis on the Connected Lane County Aspirations Project, exploring middle school student’s aspirations. During our middle school visits, I will take notes and help lead listening sessions. We’re hoping to learn more about middle school students’ aspirations and ways to improve current support systems to help them achieve them.
What are some of the project outcomes you hope to gain that will assist you professionally? I believe this job opportunity will help me learn about the importance of inclusion of key individuals when providing interventions. I’m excited because this is more of a bottom-up approach where we will be taking the time to ask students firsthand about their aspirations. I’m also looking forward to getting out into the community and visit various schools.
How does your involvement with the Community Planning Workshop relate to or inform your education? I am currently working with Dr. Ellen McWhirter on my capstone project that focuses on Latina/o high school students’ dropout intentions and college aspirations and have learned school related factors are important and need to be recognized when understanding students aspirations.
The Connected Lane County Aspirations Project overlaps with my current project and takes an additional step back to focus on middle school students. This is really neat and something I have not really seen done before. This type of approach can be considered as being an upstream approach and one that overlaps with prevention science.
What’s your favorite pig-out food? In-N-Out Burger
What advice would you give to your ‘younger’ self just beginning as a graduate student? “Take it one day at a time and focus on the journey, not the destination.”