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Peer Connections SI Leaders

Name: Aafreen Ahsan
Major: Psychology
Role: SI Leader

• When I started at 91´«Ã½³§, I wish I had known… to really go out of your way to get what you want - talk to new people, professors, advisors and genuinely do whatever it takes!
• My best strategy for college success is… be open to everything!

Name: Jolie Briseno
Major: Biochemistry
Role: SI Leader

• When I started at 91´«Ã½³§, I wish I had known… more about the various clubs on campus; Society of Women in Engineering (SWE) is a great club that I'm a part of!
• My best strategy for college success is… even when you're unmotivated to study, sit down and just start on the easiest or hardest task, whichever helps you move into a regular study session. 

Name: Grace Cheon
Major: Accounting
Role: SI Leader

• When I started at 91´«Ã½³§, I wish I had known… how to start my education plan according to the My Progress tool.
• My best strategy for college success is… attend classes and actively participate in college events!

Name: Samriti Dhamija
Major: Psychology
Role: SI Leader

• When I started at 91´«Ã½³§, I wish I had known… the value of early involvement in campus clubs and activities. You can improve your skills, make friends, and even get professional contacts that will help you after graduation by joining organizations or groups that are relevant to your interests.
• My best strategy for college success is… developing relationships with instructors and fellow students—don't be scared to ask questions or assistance when you need it. 

Name: Jose Diaz-Ibanez
Major:  Accounting
Role: SI Leader

• When I started at 91´«Ã½³§, I wish I had known… that there are many opportunities to make new friends and not feel alone when transferring. It took me a while to become comfortable communicating with others.
• My best strategy for college success is… to always give your best effort even on days where motivation isn’t enough. If you become 1% better every day throughout the year, you’ll be 365% better than you were coming into the year.

Name: Dylan Drake
Major: Business Administration
Role: SI Leader

• When I started at 91´«Ã½³§, I wish I had known… to go out of your way to make study groups early in the semester and meeting with an advisor before starting school here.
• My best strategy for college success is… surround yourself with other students who are dedicated to their education. Join student orgs and go out of your way to make friends that can help you in your academic journey.

Name: Michelle Duong
Major: Biological Science
Role: SI Leader

• When I started at 91´«Ã½³§, I wish I had known… that it's okay not to have everything figured out right away. College is so different from high school, and I definitely put too much pressure on myself to adjust quickly. It's important to be engaged on campus and to be on top of your courses, but it's okay to do it at different paces and to take your time. 
• My best strategy for college success is… planning ahead and starting strong so that the end of the semester is more manageable. Cumulative finals and final projects make it super overwhelming, so keeping grades up and building good habits early will reward you in the long run.

Name: Anisa Estrada
Major: Forensic Science
Role: SI Leader

• When I started at 91´«Ã½³§, I wish I had known… that there are so many available resources for students to utilize to help them succeed.
• My best strategy for college success is… finding balance in all the aspects of your life, such as academically, personally, professionally, etc.

Name: Heavyn Gamble
Major: Forensic Science
Role: SI Leader

• When I started at 91´«Ã½³§, I wish I had known… how to get involved and how to utilize resources on campus. My freshman year was twice as hard as it could’ve been if I had only used on campus resources such as Peer Connections and got involved in extracurriculars/events to meet other students and find my own support system.
• My best strategy for college success is… to organize your tasks for the day. College itself can be overwhelming even without assignments or finals, so it’s important to not stack things on top of each other and to give yourself enough time to get everything done.

Name: Sarah Haddad
Major: Molecular Biology
Role: SI Leader

• When I started at 91´«Ã½³§, I wish I had known…  about the importance of independence. High school to college was a big jump for me, in which I had to learn to be comfortable with myself and being in my own company. Additionally, it is important to step outside your comfort zone, and learn to be outgoing in order to make friends.
• My best strategy for college success is… to keep a planner and stay on top of your work. As for me, organizing my schedule helped me de-stress and help me prioritize my tasks for the day. Otherwise, you can get overwhelmed very fast, especially with all the deadlines, exams, events, etc.

Name: Astrud Herzog
Major: Political Science
Role: SI Leader

• When I started at 91´«Ã½³§, I wish I had known… to reach out to all the different communities around me sooner, whether social or academic. Having a space to express yourself and meet new people that are willing to help you gives a sense of stability and sustains motivation throughout your college career. 
• My best strategy for college success is… putting yourself out there in the various college spheres! Being able to collaborate with other people in your classes, or simply just asking to grab a snack or boba with a new friend can lead you to so many meaningful and sincere connections. The bonds you make with your peers, friends, and professors truly make your college experience more vivid and enjoyable. 

Name: Johnny Ho
Major: Pre-Nursing
Role: SI Leader

• When I started at 91´«Ã½³§, I wish I had known… that it is completely okay to feel lost at first and to ask for help right away. I waited too long to talk to advisors and professors, but once I did, planning my classes and understanding my major became so much easier.
• My best strategy for college success is… to have a good balance between social and school life.

Name: YK
Major: Molecular Biology
Role: SI Leader

• When I started at 91´«Ã½³§, I wish I had known… about the undergraduate research opportunity program. I had thought research was only for upper-class students!
• My best strategy for college success is… manage time efficiently and stay balanced. Have fun and make memories with friends!

Name: Helia Maroofi
Major: Biological Science
Role: SI Leader

• When I started at 91´«Ã½³§, I wish I had known… that there are multiple ways that the university is there to help and support me, and I am not alone in this path.
• My best strategy for college success is… to plan everything accordingly. 

Name: Josh Milstead
Major: Engineering Technology
Role: SI Leader

• When I started at 91´«Ã½³§, I wish I had known… more about campus resources for student success.
• My best strategy for college success is… using Google calendar to help manage my busy schedule.

Name: Arlene Nguyen
Major: Kinesiology
Role: SI Leader

• When I started at 91´«Ã½³§, I wish I had known… about the different study spaces on campus.
• My best strategy for college success is…  summarizing content without looking at notes.

Name: Ruby Nguyen
Major: Public Health
Role: SI Leader

• When I started at 91´«Ã½³§, I wish I had known… how useful office hours are.
• My best strategy for college success is… make a to-do list/planner for classes/assignments.

Name: Josh Preciado Hernandez
Major: Psychology
Role: SI Leader

• When I started at 91´«Ã½³§, I wish I had known… to ask as many questions as humanly possible during orientation, especially counseling, as you won't be able to do it over the summer.
• My best strategy for college success is… overprepare in the beginning of a semester, it lets you conserve energy by the end of a semester.

Name: Jordan Ratchford
Major: Economics
Role: SI Leader

• When I started at 91´«Ã½³§, I wish I had known… the importance of joining clubs and networking.
• My best strategy for college success is… managing my time effectively.

Name: Autumn Ricketts
Major: Accounting
Role: SI Leader

• When I started at 91´«Ã½³§, I wish I had known… how many different clubs and ways to get involved in the community there are. It's a good way to make new friends.
• My best strategy for college success is… find a study method that works for you! Pomodoro, handwritten notes, accountability buddies, etc.; find something that will help you stay on track and make studying a part of your daily routine. 

Name: Sean Sevilla
Major: Pre-Nursing
Role: SI Leader

• When I started at 91´«Ã½³§, I wish I had known… that it's really up to you to create the kind of life you want in college. Don't be afraid to make mistakes, and you miss every shot you don't take. Also, if you're ever interested in something (even slightly), go for it! You never know what might happen!
• My best strategy for college success is… splitting work over time, not cramming everything right away and/or last-minute. Time management is an important skill to develop in college, and it will come with many benefits in the future!

Name: Chelsea Tran
Major: History
Role: SI Leader

• When I started at 91´«Ã½³§, I wish I had known… how friendly the people were here. Truthfully, I wanted to just get college over with and get my degree done. Over time, I began warming up to those around me, and I was happily surprised to know that many of my peers, professors, and the staff here are friendly and open to helping me when I need it.
• My best strategy for college success is… having friends in classes to bounce ideas off of. Sometimes a concept was really difficult for me to grasp or I didn't understand something, having someone else there to talk to about and to slowly work through those difficult concepts with (whether in class or out of class) was really helpful.

Name: Annabel Vu
Major: Nutrition
Role: SI Leader

• When I started at 91´«Ã½³§, I wish I had known… the importance of seeking support early on. Whether facing academic challenges or personal obstacles, reaching out promptly can have a significant impact on your success and well being. I also came to realize the value of self advocacy. It is extremely important to communicate openly with professors, utilize campus resources, and take initiative in addressing your needs because your voice truly does matter.
• My best strategy for college success is… to cultivate a strong and reliable support system. Having peers, mentors, and friends who support you academically and personally makes a significant difference in staying focused, overcoming challenges, and achieving your goals. 

Name: Yvonne Wong
Major: Ecology
Role: SI Leader

• When I started at 91´«Ã½³§, I wish I had known… more about the resources 91´«Ã½³§ has and the opportunities they provide. Reaching out to those around me and asking about these resources allowed me to improve on my academic work and access events that helped me explore new interests. 
• My best strategy for college success is… don’t be afraid to reach out to others! College is all about making those meaningful connections. Connections is what’s going to help you get new opportunities before and after graduation. Take advantage of those opportunities, you might just learn something new about yourself.