I just think all of us transfer students,
are really strong.
(upbeat music begins)
Tell me a little bit about like some
of the challenges that you've faced, you know
since you've come to ASU, since you like came
to the U.S. just tell me about like, what's led you,
what's impacted you to be
like the person that you are right now in this moment.
So I did move here when I was 15
knowing pretty much, no English,
and I struggled a while.
My first couple of years I wasn't doing well.
I had no idea what was going on in my classes,
but also like what my future was going to look like.
I feel like students around me all had an idea
of what they wanted to do when they grew up,
and they all knew which path they had to take to get there.
And I didn't, I was just lost.
I, I didn't know what financial aid was,
what scholarships were available to me,
and how to apply to even college or university.
So definitely right after high school, the best idea
for me was to go to community college so I could stay close
to home and, you know, have my parents, which were
you know, my closest friends, close to me.
I think going through the transition from going
like coming from Mexico and then going from high school
to college, and then coming from community college to ASU,
I think that's definitely made me who I am today.
It's made me a lot stronger, a lot more resilient.
And I just think all
of us transfer students are really strong.
And you're a transfer student as well,
you know this too.
We're all, we've all been
through the struggle and we've all, you know, grown because of it.
We're all here stronger because of it.
Tell me a little bit about like
what it feels like to be a transfer student at ASU.
While you're trying to figure
out the whole transfer process,
it can be very exciting,
but also a little bit scary,
and you know, like maybe some anxiety here and there too.
But I mean, once to get, once you get to ASU, you
I feel like it's all excitement.
You know, you get to meet a whole world of new people
and experience everything ASU has to offer.
Who like, who has inspired you,
like to keep pushing through like
challenges that you've encountered, like along,
along the way, like whether it's at ASU or
whether it was like when you were at community college
or before then?
I think it's definitely my family
because I mean, we got here together,
and not knowing anyone else, we're all in the same boat.
So they were pretty much the only people I knew.
In fact, in town, they were my only friends,
and honestly, they've always been my biggest supporters.
My parents have never doubted me.
They've always known I was going to get here
to where I am today, and they've supported me in every way
they can.
Maria, your parents wrote a letter for you.
It's under your chair.
And would you mind reading it?
My parents wrote a letter for me?
Yeah
Under my chair?
Yeah.
This is going to make me cry.
It's in Spanish.
Should I read it in Spanish?
Yes? Okay.
Maria Jose, that's me.
I didn't say this, but my second name is Jose.
My full name is Maria Jose.
Maria Jose
Somos muy privilegiados de tenerte como nuestra hija,
nos llena de orgullo ver como has sido
un excelente estudiante,
y siempre te está superado en lo que hagas.
Gracias a tu esfuerzo perseverancia e Inteligencia,
que te a permitido llegar a donde estas.
Desde muy chica,
fuiste muy responsable e independiente, en tus estudios.
Cuando nos mudamos a los Estados Unidos,
nos sorprendió lo rápido que te adaptaste
y como lograste continuar con sus excelentes calificaciones,
siendo un ejemplo para tus hermanos.
A quien siempre estás dispuesta a apoyar,
y no solo a ellos sino a también a todos los que están a su alrededor.
Es una gran alegría para nosotros ver los logros que estás teniendo.
estamos muy seguros de que tu esfuerzo será recompensado
y tus metas serán cumplidas.
No nos cansamos de darle gracias a Dios por darnos
la oportunidad de ser tus padres.
Y sabes que te queremos mucho.
Con todo nuestro amor tus papas,
Jose Manuel and Carmelita Perez
They're so sweet.
Thank you.
Oh, I had no idea this was going to happen.
Like how did you guys even get in contact with my parents?
I am so surprised.
This is such a nice surprise.
I just love them so much.
Wow. That's so sweet.
Yes. We all struggled together, so,
Yeah.
You know, I'm here because of them.
Yeah.
So my graduation is as much as, you know, a win for
for them as it is for me.
Yeah
What would, like, what advice
would you give other transfer students,
students who are currently
like going through like their own challenges?
I think that if you're a transfer student
and are going through challenges, the biggest piece
of advice I can give you is to ask for help.
Just give yourself enough time to familiarize yourself
with everything and to like go through the entire process
and always reach out to people who are here to help you
if you have any questions.
Knowing what you know now, what would you tell yourself
pre-transferring to ASU?
Yes. So, you know, I mentioned asking
for help is key, also what I really wish I'd known
was the pathway program.
Because I know a lot of people that, you know,
really don't like asking for help
or don't like meeting with advisors and stuff like that.
So the pathway program, is a really good resource
for really anyone, but especially
for people that just like want to do everything themselves,
like sign up for a pathway!
Like you have all those resources like available to you,
24/7. Once I did this, when I figured
out which classes I was missing and which classes, you know,
I really have to take at my community college
and not at ASU if I wanted to transfer as a true junior.
I'm really glad I signed up for the pathway.
And I feel that also after I signed up,
I started getting, you know, I got more connected
to ASU, in a way. I started getting more emails
from my specific college and from advisors and like, "Hey
we're having this event for transfer students,
like you might want to join.
And there's this scholarship available
that you can apply for, like you should apply."
And I feel like all of that really helped me feel connected
to ASU even before I got here.
And it also helped me, you know, prepare for my transition.