25 % of PSP college graduates go on to pursue a graduate degree! Melissa R. and Guadalupe B. are PSP alumni from the Lennox class of 2012. They both earned their Bachelor’s degree’s last year and are now beginning their first year of graduate school! We asked them about their career paths and for some advice to our current PSP scholars. They also shared their favorite PSP memories with us! Read their Q&A below.

Melissa R. is a PSP alumna from the Lennox class of 2012. She attended UC Santa Cruz and earned her B.A. in Linguistics in June 2016. She is now continuing her education at Cal State Los Angeles where she is pursuing her Master’s degree in Communicative Disorders with an emphasis in Speech Language Pathology.

Q: What do you hope to accomplish with your Master’s degree?
A: I want to become a board certified Speech-Language Pathologist.

Q: What tips do you have for current PSP students about studying?
A: Choose somewhere that you won’t be as easily distracted (libraries, or coffee shops if studying at home is too distracting). If you’re going somewhere outside of your house to study, make sure you take everything you need with you (flash cards, notes, laptop, headphones, power cords, etc). Also when studying, make sure to stay hydrated and fuel yourself with healthy snacks and meals!

Q: Any advice on choosing a major or career path in college?
A: When first choosing a major or career path, make sure you do your research first about what requirements are necessary to begin your career and what schools offer the programs you need. Once you’re in college, take a few starter classes involving your major and if you don’t find them interesting, try taking a few classes from different kinds of majors to see what does interest you. It’s okay to switch majors, students do it all of the time!

Q: How did PSP make an impact in your life?
A: Being in PSP made an enormous impact during my high school career because it exposed me to experiences that I wouldn’t have been able to otherwise. For example, I was able to visit different countries (England, Spain, and France) and learn about different cultures, as well as go to museums and try different foods. The most important aspect of it for me was that PSP helped me get out of my comfort zone. Trying new experiences helped me grow as an individual and motivated me to pursue higher education and continue learning about the world around me. Without the support of PSP during my senior year of high school, I wouldn’t have been able to apply to as many universities as I did, or even afford the necessary exams to be able to apply to universities.

Q: What is your favorite PSP memory?
A: I have many amazing memories of PSP, but one of the most memorable ones was being at very top of the Eiffel Tower and realizing how lucky and blessed I was to be able to travel across the world at the age of 15, because some people aren’t able to travel out of the country during their entire lifetime.

Guadalupe B. is a PSP alumnus from the Lennox class of 2012. He attended the University of California, Irvine and earned his B.A. in Urban Studies with a minor in Global Sustainability in June 2016. He is now working on his Master’s degree in Higher Education Administration at Loyola Marymount University.

Q: What do you hope to accomplish with your Master’s degree?
A: I hope to become an expert in higher education and be a qualified individual to serve the community. I enrolled in the program because I enjoy working with students in higher education and creating a platform where students can learn to be autonomous. I value the student experience and feel that is important to focus on the whole student.

Q: What tips do you have for current PSP students about studying?
A: Utilize your resources, learn how to study and manage your time now so you can be ready to do that in college. Write down your assignments in a planner to make sure you’re getting everything done.

Q: Any advice on choosing a major or career path in college?
A: Learn to embrace your individuality and be yourself. Challenge yourself when you are in college, explore organizations or ideas that are uncomfortable to you. When you challenge yourself, you learn more about your self and it helps build a stronger person. Do not let others influence you and explore your curiosities because they may lead to your passion. When it comes to choosing a path or major, analyze what you enjoy the most. It is important to reflect because it allows you to understand why you make certain decisions and what areas you need to grow.

Q: How did PSP make an impact in your life?
A: I am proud to be a PSP alumnus because it allowed me to become an open individual. At a college/university setting you are exposed to new ideas that can make you uncomfortable, but being a PSP alumnus I was a respectful individual. I was aware of the resources on campus because I was exposed to different institutions. To remain in PSP I had to excel in my academics and this translated into college as an undergraduate student because I was able to be on the Dean’s Honor List.

Q: What is your favorite PSP memory?
A: My favorite memory is spending the time with other scholars. I was able to build relationships that are still strong today. As a leader I value relationships and at the end of the day, that is all we have. I am extremely grateful of the wonderful opportunities that I was able to explore but I will forever cherish the memories I made with scholars in my class.