A Welcoming Community with Valerie

Transcript

It is time to meet Valerie, a University of Maryland senior at USG, who is passionate about the amazingly diverse community that she has found here on campus. USG is home to so many first generation college students from all around the world and around the corner, and the campus embraces equity and inclusion among its most cherished values. Take it away, Valerie.

– Thanks, Alex, hi everyone. When I was two years old, I immigrated to the United States from El Salvador. My parents always taught me that knowledge was a superpower and to pursue what I love. While pursuing my first love of acting, I moved to New York for two years. Then I was brought to my second love here at USG, the University of Maryland Communication Program. One of my favorite parts about USG is the community. I have an amazing group of friends and we all come from unique backgrounds. I’ve had the opportunity to conduct a research study of immigrant students by using students on campus as my sample population, but the diversity doesn’t just stop at the students. We have professors from all around the world and they bring their experiences and their cultures and they share them in the classrooms with us. This is inspiring for me, an immigrant and woman of color to see people who look like me, thrive and succeed in their professional careers. As a communication major, I’m encouraged to explore the diverse areas of interest ranging from crisis communication to photography, to filmmaking and research studies. Aside from being welcoming and inclusive, USG offers amazing scholarship opportunities. Because of my immigration status, I don’t qualify for traditional financial aid and most scholarships. However, I was able to work my way through school with USG support. They even offer a scholarship specifically for first generation college students like me. I know that finding the right college for you can be challenging, especially when you don’t have someone to guide you. That’s why finding the community that’s right for you is so important. I’m lucky I found mine here at the Universities at Shady Grove and who knows, this might be the right place for you too. Back to you, Alex.

– Way to go Valerie, between your earlier experience in performing arts and your communications degree, we’re sure there’s gonna be a lot of exciting things happening for you just ahead. Thank you for the grade tips you shared for students who are looking to make their way through the college and career journey. Thanks again.