
Class of 2022: BS Management and Business Economics Minor Psychology
Why did you choose to attend UC Merced?
During high school, I attended a UC Merced campus tour and was very intrigued by the campus design and programs it had to offer. As the youngest university in California, I was impressed by the amount of accomplishments the university was able to achieve within a short time frame. Further, many of the students attending were first generation college students such as myself, so I immediately felt like I belonged in a community with many individuals who come from similar backgrounds.
Was there a class or professor that left a lasting impression on you?
The professor that left a lasting impression on me was Professor Jason Lee. During my first semester, I attended his office hours to get help on my ECON 1 homework. I initially was a very reserved individual and felt nervous to speak in an office with various other students. Nevertheless, Professor Lee had always been very amicable and made every student in his office hours felt comfortable asking for help. Because of his welcoming attitude, I ended up attending office hours just to play card games and chat in between classes. This eventually led to Professor Lee referring me to a research assistant position with Professor Gray later that school year. In addition, I also received the opportunity to work as a course reader for Professor Lee in the latter half of my academic career. These opportunities not only opened doors for internships/full time careers, but the mentorship I gained out of it definitely helped shaped who I am today.
Did you participate in clubs, social orgs, research, or internships while at UC Merced? How did they shape your experience?
I explored various clubs at UC Merced, but eventually dedicated myself to Hermanas Unidas and Business Society. Being part of these organizations really helped me get out of my shell and overcome my fear of speaking in front of large audiences. I initially was a commuter student, so I didn’t have the chance to meet people through dorm life as most students would. Ironically, I met most of my friends from college via Zoom when the pandemic caused everything to be moved online. In addition to working as a research assistant and course reader, these experiences helped me obtain internships with the Merced County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and Yosemite Farm Credit. My overall college experience would have been drastically different had I not put myself out there. These organizations allowed me to become a strong candidate when applying for full time positions but also led me to finding some of my life-long friends.
What do you enjoy most about your job or industry?
I currently work as a Finance Analyst for Gallo, a large alcoholic beverage company that produces hundreds of brands such as High Noon and Barefoot. Something I enjoy about the industry is range of collaborations the company has participated in. For instance, Gallo serves as the official wine sponsor of the NFL and has promotions ranging from supermarket Barefoot wine displays to Super Bowl commercials being aired during the big game. There’s always new and exciting challenges in the industry that pushes the company, and analysts such as myself, to think of strategic ways to maintain long term growth.
What advice would you give incoming UC Merced students?
The advice I would give incoming students is to take full advantage of the UC’s resources. Be sure to establish connections with your professors and utilize the career center to assist with figuring out what industry you’d like to go into. A lot of companies begin hiring for summer internships the following year during the fall semester, so it’s good to stay proactive on active openings. Though while it’s definitely important to stay engaged with your academics and extracurriculars, but be sure not to overload your plate and give yourself grace to make fun memories.