How has your ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø±¬ÍøÕ¾ Sociology education and experience informed your work and life?
My sociology education at ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø±¬ÍøÕ¾ has been instrumental in both my professional work and personal life! Coming from inner-city Los Angeles, I remember feeling very confused and overwhelmed by the change in environment, and sociology helped put those feelings into words and academic research that empowered my sense of being and purpose in the realm of higher education.
For example, Sociology in Education with Ingrid Nelson [associate professor of sociology], was one of the first courses at ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø±¬ÍøÕ¾ that equipped me with the language, theory, and practice to synthesize my undergraduate journey as a first generation student from a low income background.
Sociology 1101 [Introduction to Sociology] with Theo Greene [associate professor of sociology] helped connect me to racial theories and historical texts that helped me articulate my personal experiences as a first-generation Asian-American at an elite institution, and “The Wire”: Race, Class, Gender, and the Urban Crisis with Brian Purnell [associate professor of Africana studies and history] helped me understand my home of Los Angeles with a broader, multi-dimensional perspective of the city. Altogether, this has made me a much more informed person with plenty to talk about at dinner parties or in conversations with friends (sometimes much to their chagrin).
What are the one or two events, courses, or people that stand out in your mind from your time at ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø±¬ÍøÕ¾?
I remember Professor Purnell's three-page essays for his Wire class. I was ecstatic! However, there was so much to talk about given the material, so it made me a better writer by forcing me to be more concise, decisive, and clear with my points and my writing. Conversely, I also remember my independent research project with Professor Nelson from my junior to senior year. I have never done a research project of this scale before, so it was intimidating. In the end, I was glad that by committing to the research process, I was able to gain more agency in my articulation of the living world and develop more consistent writing and research habits that carry to this day.
What advice do you have for current and prospective ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø±¬ÍøÕ¾ Sociology students?
My advice: give it a try! College is a time to explore and find out. It is much, much harder to get funding for your research after your time at ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø±¬ÍøÕ¾, so take advantage of all the funds, summer internships, and conferences that you can. Though at the time it might be hard to see its payoffs (or it may seem a lot), just simply trying provides so much more experience on which you can build a foundation for your future work or journey. You don't even have to end up doing exactly that—sometimes, what you learn along the way and the people you meet can contribute to your job or journey in other fields, as sociology is very, very multi-faceted and applicable.
