Essay: Student Success Coach

Joseph Allen Ruanto-Ramirez, an administrator at UCSD, brought the position of Student Success Coach to my attention. As a transfer student who graduated from the University of California San Diego with a bachelor’s degree in Theatre Arts, I experienced first hand how the atmosphere there was conducive to self-exploration and growth. As a minority, coming from a low-income family, with immigrant parents from the Philippines, I am eager and able to add to the conversation of diversity. Helping students realize their own potential and self worth is what I hope to do with you as one of your Student Success Coaches. My holistic approach to art would be a great complement to help students as a Student Success Coach. Training as an actor at UCSD, we are taught to approach situations with empathy. Stage management courses have taught me organizational skills and compromise. Ensemble work allowed for collaboration, outside the box perspectives, and accountability. Professionally, doing world premiere productions, and performing across the country has exposed me to different work ethics and all walks of life. I want to transition my skills from advocating for patients to advocating for students. With over 3 years experience as the Patient Advocate for

Working directly with UCSD’s Kaibigang Pilipino, I have led workshops with high school and college students about Gender and Identity. With Kim Rubenstein and Jim Carmody, professors at UCSD, I have served as a Teacher’s Assistant and Assistant Director, respectively. Each occasion required the development of students, direct engagement, and both professors guided me through the process. As an alumnus of Loyola High School, I was given the opportunity to come back every year and lead Artistic Development Workshops. We all deserve an equal chance at owning our success, and witnessing someone succeed is one the greatest honors I have ever