Where are you from, and what were you doing before enrolling in graduate school? 

I am from La Habra, California, and recently earned my bachelor’s degree in journalism with a minor in Spanish from Califronia State University, Long Beach. Having finished my degree only a month prior to my start date at USC, before enrolling I was the Managing Editor for CSULB’s bilingual magazine, ENYE, where I was able to highlight the stories of the Latinx community. I also had many opportunities to tell the stories of the people and hidden gems around the city through the school newspaper, The Long Beach Current, and with a multimedia piece for ABC7 en Español.

How did you learn about the degree program, and why did you choose USC Annenberg? 

I believe that regardless of where you are from or the role and importance that earning a college degree plays in your life, the knowledge, resources and impact that USC holds is incredible. While planning my future, nervous to officially join the job market, I decided to do my research and apply to one university for grad school, USC. I had heard time and time again from professors and other reporters that the place to be, where I would benefit the most, was at USC Annenberg. I thought it was a long shot, but anxiously hoped that Annenberg, filled with its incredible resources, real world experience, and extremely versed professors, would pick me. They did. I was overjoyed, crying on the couch with my parents with the feeling that my future just got a little brighter.

What have you enjoyed most about the degree program? 

This program has provided me with so many publishing opportunitites, one-on-one mentoring, professors that have been where I can only hope to be, and, most importantly, lifelong friendships. While our program is small, our group, like the whole of Annenberg, is diverse with different lived experiences, but all having a passion for what we do and the world we are entering. I could not be more lucky that to have this amazing group of people alongside me, and Dr. Lisa Pecot-Hébert for her constant support for every one of us in the program.