Excerpt from Turning on the Lights: Part II.1 Potential
All students have many strengths and great potential!
My niece Bianca began her college studies at San Diego City College (SDCC), but she was placed in a basic skills math class because of her low math assessment score. Bianca is a very proud Latina, and her dad is my compadre Marcos of the Impalas Car Club of San Diego. Her goal was to transfer to a 4-year university. Bianca demonstrated self-advocacy when she visited me in the MESA Center to ask for my help. Here is our exchange:
Bianca: “Tio (uncle), I need your help. I need to take math, but I’m just not good at math.”
Corner Man:
“First, we need to change that attitude. It isn’t that you’re not good at math. You just haven’t been trained in the learning culture to know how to approach the learning in math. I can train you in the learning culture, but I will only train you if you are serious about succeeding in math. If you are not prepared to do the work to succeed, then I will not train you because you will be wasting my time, and you will be wasting your time. Do you understand?”
She understood. Bianca earned an A in her first math class – she was the best student in her class, and she continued earning A-grades in her math classes! One day, she saw me walking on the SDCC campus. We were far apart, but she was excited to see me. She yelled out to me, “Tio, I am now in Statistics, and I love statistics!” Bianca was clearly in control of her learning in the bright light of the learning culture. She was awarded thousands of dollars in scholarships while at City College, and she earned an Associate Degree in Peace and Conflict Studies before transferring to the University of California (UC) Berkeley in Peace Studies, with a full scholarship! After achieving her goal of graduating from UC Berkeley, she became the Academic Success and Bar Program Coordinator at the University of San Diego (USD) Law School, with the responsibility for helping students with resources for succeeding in law school. While at USD, Bianca also earned her Master’s degree in Leadership Studies. Her ultimate career goal is to become the President of SDCC, where her academic journey began, or “at least some type of leader at City College to influence students and guide them towards success!”
I contacted Bianca while writing her story for Turning on the Lights. She confirmed the details through a phone text, and added, “Tio, THANK YOU for all that you’ve done for me throughout my educational journey! I cannot thank you enough for all of the tools and resources that you’ve provided me. You helped me shape my goals and dreams. Your influence has empowered me beyond what you can imagine. I also just bought my own condominium. Thank you. I love you so much!”
I am very proud of my MESA Creators and my niece Bianca. Similar to MESA Creators and empowered with the learning culture, she not only had what it took to succeed, but she also proved that she had the desire to succeed. What will be your story? Are you serious about succeeding, and are you prepared to do the work needed to succeed? Turning on the Lights is also the key to your success, but it is up to you to decide what your story will be. Whatever you choose to do, your actions will speak for you.
Bianca Arellano is well on her way to achieving her dreams. She is a student services professional at her San Diego City College, where she is influencing and guiding students in HUBU (Hermanos Unidos, Brothers United), Puente and Umoja towards success. She is also a doctoral scholar in the University of San Diego’s Education for Social Justice Program.