Jose Sanchez

When I think of EOP, I always remember when I first arrived at the California State University Maritime Academy for orientation week and felt very isolated. A majority of the students at school don’t look like me, so during the first day of orientation week I was thinking how I wanted to go back home to Los Angeles and just go to community college. However, I remember walking into the SEAS center where our EOP headquarters is at and was placed in a group with two other peers. Who knew that those two peers would become my best friends up to this day.

I am proud to understand the core value and the purpose of this wonderful program. I have been an EOP Summer Bridge mentor two years in a row since it began in 2016 as well been an academic year mentor. Working for EOP as a mentor is my biggest accomplishment because mentoring someone and keeping them on the right path is the best way I can contribute back to a program that has done so much for me.

I have told our EOP director a handful of times, if it wasn’t for EOP or her being there as a mentor, I would have dropped out of the campus. I am an undocumented student with DACA status and as any other college student, it’s been a difficult journey. However, with a little help, it makes me feel motivated that an organization cares about the success of my future. It’s been a difficult journey; I’ve gone from being placed on academic probation to now being on President’s List. I went through all of this with the EOP staff by my side, supporting me through these experiences.

College is not easy, especially carrying the weight of being a first-generation student and even being a student of color has many obstacles. However, I ask all the EOP students to hang in there, because one day, you will have completed your degree and working a great career job. Nobody on this earth will be able to take away your degree or your education, it’s something invaluable.