Highlighting past or current graduate students here at California State University, Bakersfield!
Graduate Student and Alumni Highlights
Graduate Programs Student Highlights
Marta Percolla
In a recent article written by Kelly Ardis for CSUB News, Marta Percolla discusses
the importance of making science assessible. Percolla earned both her bachelor’s and
master’s degrees in biology at CSUB’s School of Natural Sciences, Mathematics and
Engineering, and now she is working on her doctorate in biology at UC Berkeley. Read her story!
Esmeralda Mendoza
Esmeralda Mendoza shared her journey from CSUB to her current role at a non-profit organization as a Bilingual Therapist and Registered Associate Social Worker.
"Don't be so hard on yourself! Be patient and explore all the possibilities in the field you are interested in and let your passion guide you along the way."
Esmeralda, our MSW alumna, is genuinely impacting the lives of children and families in our community.
Esmeralda Mendoza, better known as Esme, a 2019 MSW Alumni, applied to several graduate programs but chose CSUB because the program goals aligned with hers. She wasn't quite sure what specialization to focus on but knew she had a passion for making a difference. The MSW program curriculum prepared her by instilling and focusing on advocacy for human rights, social and economic justice, and resources to support her community with the acquired skills and knowledge integrated into the program.
During her field experience, she worked with adults in a clinical setting, which gave her an understanding of the complexities of her desired career in social work. Once she graduated, she accepted a position at a non-profit agency that primarily works with children and new mothers. Due to the graduate program curriculum emphasizing a generalist model, Esmeralda was prepared for the challenge. With her passion for helping individuals, she was ready to start making a difference in the lives of children.
She is exceptionally grateful for the continuous training and education provided at her current organization, allowing her to continue her professional growth and development in her new specialization focusing on child and family wellbeing. Her goal for this year includes focusing on the overall wellbeing of new moms, often a tumultuous period for many women, especially during the past year with the isolation requirements caused by the pandemic.
Hobert Gabuat
My family immigrated from the Philippines when I was 11 years old. Upon arrival to California, my family had to split apart due to a lack of funds. My oldest sister at the time, who was 18-years-old, was left with relatives in San Diego. My second older sister, who was 12-years-old, and I stayed with a stranger in Moreno Valley. My parents and 5-year-old little brother stayed in a trailer in the Coachella Valley to be close to the vineyards, which provided income. Our life for the first year, living with other people, was rough. Eventually, my parents saved enough money for all of us to move into a home.
If you're reading this and live near the Coachella Valley, you know how hot it gets in the summer. My family was so poor that we kept the AC off all summer. At one point, the water heater broke, and in the winter, we didn't have hot water. My parents worked long hours at their jobs picking grapes, and my siblings and I had to work to make ends meet, except for my little brother. I remember picking up cans and bottles with my father to take to a recycling station for additional cash. I also worked at a Chevron Gas station, using my paychecks to help with the household expenses and put food on the table.
My mother went as high as 6th grade in compulsory education, and my father only got through 1st grade. Thus, they constantly reminded us of the importance of education. My meal ticket out of poverty was joining the U.S. Army. The military provided me with the ability to gain my citizenship and pay for my college education.
I honestly thought my bachelor's degree would be sufficient to get an occupation with an excellent salary to support my lifestyle. The competitive jobs for individuals with a bachelor's degree in management were there. I went to all the interviews dressed in a suit and tie, conducted background research on the organizations, remembered the various mission and vision statements, and practiced answering questions in front of my mirror.
After 30 plus interviews, no matter how prepared I was, it wasn't enough to attain one of them. I concluded that I was underqualified or overqualified, or an internal applicant with just the right experience was already slated to get the position.
I hadn't considered a master's degree until I spoke to someone who had received their master's degree in social work from CSUB. I wasn't sure what social workers did; the cliché stigma of ripping children from their mothers' arms was what came to my mind. I started researching the profession and realized there were positions everywhere. The vast opportunities of the profession in public education, higher education, private and public hospitals, psychiatric and mental health facilities, hospice care, and non-profit organizations specializing in foster care, adoption services, homelessness, or veterans services convinced me that social work would be perfect for me.
I was accepted into the MSW graduate program at CSUB for the Fall 2017 cohort. As I started preparing for graduate school, I had to make several decisions which included quitting my job and enduring a 2-hour drive one way to campus. I repeatedly told myself, "No big deal! I can do this!" I felt like I was going to kindergarten all over again. Then I started to feel intimidated by not knowing what to expect at orientation or on my first day of class.
Suddenly, I began to get nervous as the size of the books I ordered for my first semester courses increased in thickness. Negative thoughts consumed me, dreading that the professors would single me out for being the oldest in the cohort. I doubted my intellectual capacity and questioned my capability of attaining a "B" average. I eventually overcame my fears after attending orientation and surviving my first day of graduate school. In the blink of an eye, I completed group projects, internships, and graduation arrived.
I was immediately offered a position at an organization where I had completed my field internship and started working as a Drug and Alcohol Counselor. After receiving my MSW degree, I was ready to gain further experience in the industry, so I applied for a position as a Mental Health Evaluator. This time, I was the perfect candidate, and I got the job! Then, I interviewed for another opportunity at the California Department of State Hospitals-Atascadero, and I got the job!
Going back to school and receiving my master's degree was the best investment I have ever made; all the positions I applied for was offered to me! I used student loans to pay for my graduate program, but it wasn't a problem because I paid them off 18 months after graduating.
As I reflect, none of my fears came to fruition, fear is always going to be there, and it's up to us to deal with adversity. It reminded me of an old children's story of a daughter who was getting frustrated with life.
The father told her to grab three items; an egg, a potato, and some leaves.
The father told his daughter to boil water and place the egg, the potato, and the leaves in the boiling water.
The daughter observed the three items in the same pot, confused and irritated.
After 10 minutes, the father instructed her to peel the egg, peel the potato, and strain the leaves.
The father explained to his daughter that each item faced the same circumstance, boiling water, but each of the items reacted differently:
- The egg was soft but is now hard.
- The potato was hard but became soft.
- The leaves changed the water itself.
The father asked the daughter, "when adversity calls, every person responds in the same manner as the three items inside the pot. Are you an egg, a potato, or leaves?"
It's such a great story; anyone can relate.
As a Clinical Social Worker, I use many stories and combine them with theories I learned in school to affect change. Social workers help people find themselves when they are lost and connect them to resources in the community. We ask the right questions to motivate people to see different perspectives in life and find the answer they are seeking within themselves. Social workers are at the forefront of advocacy, changing hearts, helping people, and positively affecting the environment - like the leaves in the boiling water.
I am proud to be a Social Worker, and I always come across people who ask me how many children I have ripped from their mothers. I laugh and simply ask them if they are interested in attaining a master's degree in social work.
Jennifer Paulsen, MA
An Advocate for Students - CSUB Campus News https://news.csub.edu/an-advocate-for-students
Eileen Díaz
There is plenty you can do with a degree in History! Our very own GSC Student Assistant, Eileen Díaz, is currently in the second year of the MA History program and is working toward completing her thesis. Apart from her studies, she assists the Historical Research Center archives in the Walter Stiern Library. She also serves as a transcriber for the Humanities Beyond Bars Oral History project with the Kegley Institute of Ethics on campus.
For more information regarding the
MA History program visit csub.edu/history
Humanities Beyond Bars Oral History visit https://hrc.csub.edu/
Sydney Harrison
Master of Science in Health Care Administration, Spring 2022
Harrison received her Bachelor of Science from Pepperdine University with a Degree in Sports Medicine. She continues seeking a position in healthcare management that will allow me to contribute to a healthier world, make a difference in the lives of others, and consistently pursue systems that protect the service of healthcare within our community.
Retrieved from https://www.csub.edu/bpa/alumni-testimonials
James Burger
While James Burger is a new addition to CSUB's Marketing and Communications department, he's always had a connection to the campus. He earned his Master's in Public Administration at CSUB, and has some kind words of encouragement about his journey at CSUB:
"I hesitated to start the MPA program for months worrying about how well I would be able to do in the program while balancing two kids, a wife, a full-time job and tons of other obligations. What I found, when I committed to my Masters' degree, is that the amount of support and your peers in the program help carry you through the early mornings and late-night class sessions. I had a rewarding, positive experience as a graduate student at CSUB."
A warm welcome and happy congratulations to James as CSUB's new Director of Marketing and Communication!
Janalynn Castillo and her mother, Maria LaMson, have received their Master's in Public
Administration for Spring 2022.
Stay Tuned
Here, at the Graduate Student Center, we will highlight student news, ongoing research, feature alumni, and introduce you all to our wonderful graduate faculty!
Stay informed of CSUB News as well!
Stay connected to us via social media below:
Instagram: CSUBGSC
Facebook: CSUB Graduate Student Center