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The Gift of Mentoring

My story begins like many families that migrate to the U.S. in search of the American Dream. As a child, my parents stressed the importance of higher education. They worked very diligently for my brothers and me to continue our education. Once I graduated from high school, I wasnt sure whether or not I would be able to continue my studies, as I came to this country as a young child undocumented. After I graduated from high school I was very blessed to meet several outreach staff from California State University, Stanislaus and in particular one of my mentors who helped me acquire private scholarships through the university, so that I would be able to pay for part of my tuition to continue my studies. Thus, I became the first person in my family to pursue a career in higher education. Thereafter, I became involved with the universitys Faculty Mentoring Program which provides faculty mentors with the opportunity to mentor a student protg (mentee) through one-on-one interaction; the mentoring relationship improves academic achievement, increases the retention and graduation of underrepresented minority students. 1 My mentors name is Dr. Mark from the department of Biology. He helped me through many of the difficult times as a student. Since, I could not work at the university due to my immigration status; he gave me my first opportunity to participate in his laboratory as a research assistant (on a volunteer basis). He guided me through the rigors of my undergraduate degrees in biology and psychology. In fact, he was one of the few professors I confided in with regards to my immigration status. Throughout these years, he has always been there to support me in any way possible. I have known Dr. Mark for 10 years and continue to talk to him on a regular basis. He has been a great inspiration to me and I look forward to one day becoming a fellow colleague of his as I pursue my dream to become a professor of psychology by obtaining my Ph.D. in Clinical or Counseling Psychology. After several years of waiting I have been blessed with qualifying and receiving the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) status, through which I am able to work in a great organization Catholic Charities as a mentor assistant. This job allows me to help mentors fulfill the role that Dr. Mark did for me. Through my work at Catholic Charities I continue my American Dream.
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Faculty Mentor Program, 2014.

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