Jacky Juarez & Alvir Sangha

Fresno State College of Science and math Building opportunities through networks of discovery

BECAUSE I’M A CSU STEM VISTA…

I've develop a routine and work ethic that I can benefit from in whatever direction
I pursue in life.

Being a VISTA has placed me in unfamiliar environments and situations where I have grown to be comfortable. This has allowed the development of my confidence when communicating with peers and faculty members. My stronger sense of confidence has in turn led to the development of my leadership skills where I have the opportunity to motivate students facing obstacles in overcoming any struggles associated with the transition into college as a STEM major.

My Favorite Part of CSU STEM VISTA...

Providing mentorship and advising to first-year students along with providing students insight on how they can still accomplish their academic goals regardless of the academic and personal challenges they may be facing.

With that said, I enjoy being part of the collaborative support network at Fresno State. It allows me to work with a diverse range of charismatic individuals who all contribute towards helping students achieve their academic potential. Having the opportunity to collaborate with such amazing people gives me the opportunity to grow every day.

My Typical Work Day

This project involves developing an early alert system in order to proactively identify those students who struggle early during their pursuit of a STEM degree.

A typical day consists of gaining insight into students’ updated grades. Students showing signs of multiple absences, poor quality of complete assignments, or low test scores will have an appointment to receive academic and/or personal support. The early alert system approach is carried out in hopes of getting at-promise students resources in a proactive manner rather than a reactive manner, providing them an equal opportunity for academic success despite any challenges they may be presented with.

Why I Chose My Campus

Fresno State is immersed in community engagement, has a diverse student population and is a gateway to national parks such as Yosemite.

The best part about working at Fresno State is being able to see cultural performances around campus and being surrounded by a welcoming staff. I wanted to work at Fresno State because I was an undergraduate student here and I wanted to experience the campus from a different perspective. I chose this campus because I was familiar with the BOND (Building Opportunities through Networks of Discovery) program and was excited to continue achieving sustainable solutions for student success.

Why I Serve with CSU STEM VISTA

It was motivating to know that I would be serving students within my community to help them succeed academically and grow professionally.

During my senior year at Fresno State, I volunteered as a peer mentor in the BOND (Building Opportunities through Networks of Discovery) program which was implemented by a previous VISTA member. After learning VISTA would be a great opportunity to work with students in higher education, I was motivated to apply. It was motivating to know that I would be serving students within my community to help them succeed academically and grow professionally. I knew that I wanted to take a gap year to decide on where to apply for grad school and found this opportunity to be perfect timing.

One Moment That Stands Out

One interaction I found memorable was helping a first-generation student navigate through campus.

I helped the student understand how Canvas worked, scheduled an appointment for them with an academic coach and discussed ways to approach an instructor for help. The student thanked me for being proactive during my outreach to them. That encounter reminded me of myself when I first came to Fresno State, which is why it feels great to be a guide for first-year students. Being a CSU STEM VISTA has influenced me to pursue my career in student affairs in higher education to enhance student growth.

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