Transfer to UC Berkeley in Mechanical Engineering
After high school, I debated between attending Santa Monica College or trade school, ultimately choosing SMC due to its better commute time to school of 1.5 hours, compared to 2 hours.
At SMC, I immersed myself in anything engineering-related and found a supportive community in the STEM, EOPS, and Adelante programs. Through the STEM program, I participated in two NASA competitions and unexpectedly became the team leader, despite having no prior leadership experience. My team and I earned national recognition, including the 3rd Best Poster Award in NASA MINDS '23, and were able to present to NASA judges at the Johnson Space Center for NASA MITTIC Spring '23.
Additionally, the STEM program provided me with more than just academic and professional opportunities; it supported me during a difficult time when I became homeless. The program connected me with resources for housing and food, enabling me to continue my journey toward earning a bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering. The sense of community and support inspired me to become a peer mentor and tutor for the STEM program as a way to give back to the community.
I was eventually accepted into the USC SURE program for the summer, but my unfortunate academic circumstances that spring made my original plan of transferring in two years seem impossible. All my counselors and friends warned me not to continue with my two-year transfer plan and to consider extending it to three or four years, as my GPA by the end of the spring semester was less than 3.2. Ignoring their advice, I enrolled in 20 units over the summer and 23 units over the fall across multiple community colleges, as no counselor was willing to approve such a heavy course load.
Despite the intense workload, I maintained a strict routine to take care of myself outside of school, though it came at the cost of sleep. My daily schedule involved waking up at 4:30 a.m. to work out, staying at school until 8 p.m., and getting home around 10 p.m., with only a few hours of sleep each night. This was my routine for six months straight. Through an unhealthy obsession with caffeine, I barely made the deadlines for assignments and responsibilities every week. I began to find comfort in the chaos that I had put myself into.
By the end of the fall semester, what originally was a 3.2 GPA was raised to a 3.71 GPA. Against all odds and doubts, I succeed through a brutal six months of schooling, receiving one B, the rest being As during the six months. It paid off since I would eventually be accepted to UC Berkeley for Mechanical Engineering. In retrospect, taking my time at SMC would have been the smarter choice, yet I still do not regret undertaking such an “impossible task.”
I can not only credit myself for my success, nor I credit smartness for taking such a heavy workload for six months. It would be a disservice to my work ethic and everyone who has helped me achieve my goals, and I truly thank those who helped through my two years of SMC.
Coming to SMC introduced me to the world of engineering research. Initially unsure of my post-graduation plans, enrolling in Sci 10 provided valuable insights into what research entailed. I continued with NASA MINDS and NASA MITTIC, ultimately gaining my first full research experience at the University of Southern California's Summer Undergraduate Research Experience in 2023. Despite taking 20 units over the summer, against the program’s “No Summer Classes” rule, I still found time to enjoy my experience at USC.
SMC taught me resilience, the importance of community, and confidence in my abilities. Managing 23 units is no easy task, but I exceeded my own expectations. My extracurricular activities and academic success led to me being named a Sharer Scholar through the SMC Scholarship Foundation, which should in theory allow me to graduate from UC Berkeley without paying anything out of pocket. I will forever consider myself an SMC alumni. The experiences and challenges I faced during my two years there helped me grow into the person I am today. SMC provided unique opportunities, such as participating in research programs at USC and Caltech, experiences that many do not get. I remember the times before starting at SMC, when I was rejected by Subway, McDonald's, Chipotle, and In-N-Out due to my lack of experience. SMC gave me the chance to prove myself and discover my true potential as an engineer.
SMC provided me with the opportunity to determine if STEM was the right path for me. After high school, I faced rejections from most of the schools I applied to for Mechanical Engineering and was waitlisted at some CSUs. SMC offered a more affordable alternative for higher education. However, my journey was challenging. In my first math course, Math 2 and 2C, I received a 67% on my first exam. Having never struggled with math in high school, failing my first exam in Precalculus made me question if I should continue pursuing engineering. I barely scraped by with a C in that class but found more success in Calculus 1 over the winter.
In the spring of 2023, I enrolled in Physics 21 and, much like Precalculus, failed my first exam, however this time scoring an all-class low of 35%. This setback made me heavily reconsider my major, contemplating a switch to counseling or psychology, as I felt that no matter how hard I tried, I kept failing my exams. However, the support from the STEM program was instrumental. Their services boosted my confidence, and I realized that I needed to change my mindset to focus on doing my best and accepting whatever outcome followed. Through patience, hard work, trust, and a bit of luck, I achieved an A in Physics 21.
This experience taught me how to study effectively and understand what works best for me. It was a turning point, allowing me to improve my academic performance significantly. I raised my GPA from 3.2 at the start of the spring semester to 3.7 by the time I started applying to transfer. SMC introduced me to engineering research through Sci 10, eventually coming to the conclusion that I will at some point pursue a PhD. SMC also taught me resilience, the importance of community, and confidence in my abilities. Managing heavy STEM course loads is no easy task, and is one I personally recommend against since there is more to SMC than just class. Through all these experiences, I have grown into the person I am today, and I look forward to what the future entails for me.
Everyone at the STEM program, but special shoutout to my favorite STEM counselor, Marian B. Lowkeen. Who was there since the beginning for me, and helped me navigate through SMC and introduce me to the rest of the STEM team.
There is much more to SMC than just classes. There are inclusive communities and countless opportunities to build your resume. For STEM majors, I initially came to SMC with the mindset that I would do everything alone. However, after failing my first math exam, I realized the importance of finding and being part of a community. Many of the students in STEM classes are the same ones you’ll see in the tutoring lab, in different classes, or in the cafeteria. Everyone at SMC is there for the same reason: to earn a bachelor's degree. There is no need to be highly competitive since STEM careers often require teamwork and collaboration. Learning to work and communicate effectively in groups, regardless of different backgrounds, is one of the most important skills to have. My personal experiences, as well as those shared by others, reinforce this truth. Expect difficulties to arise and be prepared for the unexpected, but no matter what, KEEP LOOKING FORWARD! Dwelling on past mistakes will only cause you to miss the next opportunity. Focus on the process, and focus on being the best version of yourself everyday. Embrace the challenges and continue to move forward, knowing that each experience will help you grow and succeed.