Sam Galvan

Backstory

I am a proud first-generation, low income, queer, Latina from Los Angeles, CA. I graduated from UCLA with a bachelor's degree in Cognitive Science back in 2023. Following graduation, I worked at UCLA's Division of Graduate Education, where we spearheaded diversity and outreach initiatives aimed at making graduate school more accessible and inclusive for marginalized communities. Now, I am currently a Master's Student in Higher Education at the U of M where I want to continue analyzing and scaling programs and policies in higher education that better support and advocate for all students.

Motivation for College

I always loved learning new things, from a very young age. School was one of the only places where I fully got to be myself. Nobody in my family ever had the opportunity to go to college, so my mom made an effort to do everything she could so that I could have that choice to go. I wanted to go to college for myself, for my family, and for the choice to secure a better life for us where we didn't have to struggle.

Advice for my First-Year Self

You don't have to do everything or be the best at anything. College is a place of learning and it's a place where you will get out what you put into it. You can try new things and fail at them. You can ask for help. You can say no. This is a time where all you have to do is try your hardest and there will be hundreds of people there to support you. Don't be afraid to lean on others and be vulnerable. This time is supposed to challenge you. And that should be exciting, not scary!

How My First-Gen Background Helped Me

As a first generation student, I had no expectations of how my college experience was supposed to be. I got to be curious and ask questions about everything. My mom had no idea what college looked like, so I got to learn for both of us and for my younger brother. Understanding what it was like to feel lost and confused in a sea of new opportunities, it helped me better advocate for those who come from similar backgrounds as me.

Best Thing About My College Experience

In college, the learning never stopped for me. Inside and outside the classroom, at lunch with friends, in my jobs, in the city. I was constantly challenging my perspective and my world view, learning about things I never would have known had I not stepped outside my hometown. I got to meet people from all over the world and from all walks of life, teaching me about their cultures, their experiences, and what a community could look like.