Finding Community

Transcript

UC Riverside is an incredibly diverse campus, really a nationwide trendsetter in terms of resources and support services for all sorts of students. To share with us about UCR’s commitment to diversity and finding community here, we’re gonna hear from Dewayne, a third year English and creative writing major from Pomona, California. You’re up, Dewayne.

– I appreciate that, Alex. I wanted something more for myself and I felt like the University of California, Riverside could make that a reality. The passion of my foster father played a role in me switching my major to English during my transfer process. During that time, I leaned heavily on my community to help me continue my education. UCR’s African Student Program and their Guardian Scholars Program helped me feel that community before I even arrived. UC’s Guardian Scholars Program is dedicated to serving this foster youth. I never realized the population I was truly a part of until I met the staff. The Guardian Scholars Program convinced me to pursue creative writing along with my English degree to fully explore what I love. Luckily, they had a connection with a professor on campus who was an accomplished writer that mentors me. The deep relationship they held with students in the past was beneficial in helping me decide what I wanted for my own future. The African Student Program’s dedication to have its scholars engage with the campus is unique in their approach. The events held by the program is always influenced by community and friendship. Beyond ASP, there are centers for students with different ethnic and cultural backgrounds. My love for writing and the impact professors have had on me, have influenced me to pursue a graduate degree. I hope to influence the next generation through teaching. The mentors I have made along my journey here at UCR have influenced me to wanna help the next group of scholars. Who even knows? I might pursue my doctorate here at Riverside. Flying it back to you, Alex.

– Thank you, Dewayne, for sharing. UCR has really stepped up the game, leading with actions and not just words, by creating resource centers across campus that are meant to help students succeed academically and celebrate our differences and what makes us unique. Thanks for telling us about where you’ve found community here, Dewayne. That was fantastic.