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

A San Fernando Valley, CA, native, I am a proud Latina who seeks opportunities to lift my community to greater heights. I look to encourage future Latino generations to leverage our unique cultural strengths to pursue their utmost career goals. I enjoy traveling and am an opera enthusiast. Before enrolling at USC, I had just received a corporate job offer in accounting. It was funny, and I thought to myself life is very mysterious. I did not expect to get a job offer and acceptance into my dream school. I thought I was on two different paths at first but I learned quickly my accounting background had many transferable skills. As a first-generation Latina, I was not able to quit my job because I support myself, so I have worked full-time and been a full-time graduate student.

How did you learn of the Digital Social Media degree program and why did you choose USC Annenberg?

I learned about the Digital Social Media program during a Preview day and I was curious to learn more and what won me over is that it's a Master of Science degree and a STEM program. DSM is unique its own way that we are able to take elective courses in different schools. I choose USC Annenberg because it was my first choice for my undergraduate degree and I just never applied. At 18, USC seemed unobtainable but for my graduate degree I said I need to at least try. I have optimized my time at USC by connecting with professors and the counselors at the career center. I am also currently President of the Latinx Graduate Student Association. I recently became a research assistant at the USC Annenberg Norman Lear Center, where I will help identify the representation of Native Americans and Indigenous People in the media.

What have you enjoyed the most about the Digital Social Media degree program?

I have enjoyed my classes and being able to choose electives that build my skill set. I have taken a class where I created my professional website and a class where I developed a global strategy. The class that challenged me the most was Business Analytics, but it was so rewarding because it showed me what I am capable of.