Transfer Crush Tuesday: Lexi James (10/27/15)

I'm a first generation college student who got into her dream school, studying political science! I'm working in the USAC Transfer Student Representatives (TSR) Office, where I serve as the mentor liaison for the new mentorship program for transfer students- "Show Me The Ropes." The program pairs up senior transfers with new transfer students, so that they will have a mentor and a friend. This is the first year we're doing it and I'm so excited about it! The work we're going to be doing in the TSR office this year is going to be amazing, and I can't wait to see how it all plays out. I'm so stoked to be a part of the AMAZING TSR office! I'm currently working on graduate school applications, and it's so bittersweet knowing that this is my last year here. Having only 2 years here, I knew I had to do as much as I can in this short amount of time. There are so many opportunities for everyone here, you just have to go out and find them! I promise they're not nearly as intimidating as they may seem! Pro tip: If you want to do it or try it, just do it!

Transfer Crush Tuesday: Nooriel Banayan (10/20/15)

Hey Transfers, meet this weeks Transfer Crush, Nooriel!

I work at the California Nanosystems Institute for their outreach program. We take graduate level science concepts and experiments and we make them accessible for high school students; so students make things such as solar powered devices and devices that charge super quickly and last for a super long time (you can be on instagram for days without needing to charge). I also do research at the David Geffen School of Medicine and I study advanced melanoma in human patients and how we can kickstart the patient's' immune system to attack the cancer. As for transfer related things, I try to lend a helping hand whenever I can for transfer events whether it be through the BRC or CCCP, and I'm so stoked to be a mentor this year for the new transfers. My biggest challenge as a transfer was knowing what opportunities were out there for me. It can be super intimidating at UCLA (it's not) and I feel like that fear of not having enough time/experience at a UC may discourage some transfers of going for things they want whether it be a research position or a club just because they feel like they're too new. My biggest advice, if you're unsure or scared, do it anyway. You only fail if you don't try.

Transfer Crush Tuesday: Jose Alvarez (10/13/15)

Hi, my name is Jose Alvarez. I am a 4th year Sociology major. I transferred from Los Medanos College (LMC)  in 2014. At LMC, I was heavily involved in our school's Honors Program, serving on the Officer Board, as well as the debate team. Having grown up in the East Bay my whole life, I wanted to come to UCLA to get a change of scenery.

I'm currently Vice-President of Tau Sigma, UCLA's only transfer-specific honor society, where I help create a better academic and social community for our members. I also received the IEO's Travel Study Scholarship last summer, which allowed me to take courses in NYC. I now serve as an Outreach Coordinator for the office.

I plan on pursuing a career in Education, so I decided to join Teach for America upon graduation. I will be teaching kids between elementary and middle school in Richmond, CA. I'm looking forward to the challenge and the opportunity to help produce change in the local community.

Transfer Crush Tuesday: Ivelisse Porroa-Garcia (10/6/15)

Meet our Transfer Crush Tuesday, Ivelisse!

I am a feminist Peruvian immigrant who studies political science at UCLA, my dream school. This is my second year serving in the USAC Transfer Student Representative Office, where I currently hold the position of Co-Director of the Transfer Student Mentorship Program "Show Me the Ropes." This unique program pairs up new transfers with seniors who serve as academic/career mentors and friends. As a new transfer last year, I underestimated the adaptation process to the quarter system, but then I realized I was not the only one. Transfer students like me and their experiences fuel my passion to make "Show Me the Ropes" a reality.

Moreover, during my first year at UCLA, I got admitted to the UCLA Center for American Politics and Public Policy's Quarter in Washington program, which will allow me to do research and an internship in D.C. during the Winter 2016 quarter. My research interest originated from my Constitutional Law: Civil Rights and Civil Liberties class in the political science department. I was fortunate to have the guidance of my professor by attending office hours, which is a resource I strongly recommend new transfers to use. While I wait for D.C., I work part-time in the UCLA Anderson School of Management, and I am also in the process of establishing the first UCLA American Association of University Women chapter.

However, my story does not start at UCLA. Four years ago, I came to the United States to pursue a better education. The path has not been easy, but I have shown professors, peers, and family that this Latina whose first language is Spanish is capable of establishing student organizations, winning prestigious scholarships, overcoming financial struggles, publishing research papers, bringing renowned political figures to give speeches, presenting research in an academic conference, working in a congressional office, and keeping a high GPA. However, what I am proud of the most is convincing myself that I am capable of doing even more to contribute to society, especially as a transfer student. I have been blessed, and now I have the social responsibility to finish my education to continue helping others.