Missed our introduction to the 4.0 Essentials Fellowship Program? Click here.
One thing we’re passionate about is connecting students to folks from similar backgrounds – people who get you, who share your cultural background or maybe were also the first in their family to go to college. We want students to get the information they need in a setting where they feel comfortable asking questions and hearing relevant personal stories.
As a middle school teacher and university administrator, Tim and I have been in the thick of how COVID-19 is affecting K-12 and higher education. When reimagining EDGE’s first event, we thought about what would be most useful to the high school class of 2021. I had been reading a lot all summer about how the college application process has changed as a result of the pandemic. So, we decided to shift from an in-person event connecting Filipino high schoolers and college students to a virtual conversation bringing in Filipino college admissions counselors to speak with our high schoolers.
I’m in a Facebook group for Filipinx/Pinxy-identified student affairs/higher ed professionals, so this was the perfect network to tap for volunteer speakers. We were so lucky to work with two amazing Filipina-American first-gen college graduates who have a wealth of experience in college admissions. Meet our “Ates in Admissions” (pronounced A-teh, and referring to an older sister or female relative), who gave a great presentation to our high schoolers and their parents.
Djenilin Mallari (she/her/siya) is an Assistant Director and Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Community Liaison in the Office of Undergraduate Admissions at her alma mater: University of California, Berkeley. Equity and social justice are just two of her personal and professional values, both of which she tries to integrate in all aspects of her work. She holds a BA in Social Welfare from UC Berkeley and an AA in English and an AA in Liberal Arts (Social & Behavioral Sciences emphasis) from Chabot College. She is currently pursuing an MA in Education (Equity & Social Justice concentration) at San Francisco State University.
Ashley Mendoza (she/her/hers) was born and raised in Ewa Beach, Hawai’i. She is a proud first-generation Filipina-American and the first in her family to graduate with a college degree. Currently Ashley serves as an Assistant Director of Admissions at Soka University of America. She is passionate about mentorship, leadership development, mindfulness, and practicing self-care. Ashley earned her B.A. in Liberal Arts with a major in Social Work at Whittier College and received her M.S. in Higher Education from California State University, Fullerton.
Top takeaways for high schoolers, which are also key in non-pandemic times:
- It’s so important for you to learn to advocate for yourself. Ask questions. Do your research. If you turned something in and didn’t hear back, follow up to check on it. Help and resources are always available to you but YOU have to take initiative to find it.
- Get comfortable talking and writing about yourself. It’s not bragging – it’s sharing what makes you unique and interesting. Again, it’s about being your own advocate and telling your story.
- Be flexible – colleges know that everything from grades to test scores to extracurricular activities has changed drastically these days, but even in non-pandemic times, make the best of every situation!
Future events in this series will continue connecting our Filipino high schoolers with current Filipino college students and working professionals to talk about financial aid, majors and internships, college and careers. Then we’ll be curating presentations and resources for additional communities that we’re passionate about. Please join us in this important work by making a donation to EDGEucation here!
