My UC Davis Experience Thus Far

My name is Raquel Calles. My parents are from El Salvador and I was born in California. I recently graduated from Mendota High School and am now attending UC Davis’s college of engineering. My intended major is biomedical engineering. I love UCD! The community is very warm and welcoming. There are many frozen yogurt shops that delight anyone’s sweet spot. Living close to the arboretum is wonderful because each day I get to see ducks with their ducklings, the sereneness of the water, and the beauty of all the plants.

I feel like each day I am proving all stereotypes wrong because aside from being a Hispanic girl, I became a mother my first year of college. However, I did not quit on my dreams. I want to show my son that no matter the challenges one is faced with, one should never give up on their dreams and goals. I have continued to follow many of the plans I had prior to the baby, by volunteering at two elementary schools here in Davis and helping with the organization of MECHA in Davis and MASA in Sacramento State. I have also joined intermural softball and every day I am showing everyone that a young Hispanic lady can blossom into a woman and keep going; getting stronger by the minuet of accomplishments.

I started school by living in the dorms and joining the student council but once I found out I was pregnant I was faced with a different ordeal. I moved out of my dorm and into the UCD student family housing I was promised that my son would have daycare and that as long as I kept my grades to par I would graduate from UCD. UCD had always been my dream, finding out that I was going to have a son my first year set me back on some aspirations such as going abroad but I thank God for the blessing he sent me. If anyone reads this I just hope they understand that dreams can be followed no matter the circumstance. I am proud now to be a mother. My son is 3 months old, healthy, happy and beautiful. Me, I am almost done with my first year and excited to start my second year. However I know that I will be here for 5 years since my major is a bit challenging and Mendota high doesn’t prepare its students for higher level math or science. A few years from now I hope to be able to blog about my graduation and all the challenges that I overcame. I am thankful for all the help that family, friends and overall UCD has provided me with. I thank God every day for being by my side and guiding me towards the right ways.

Hope this story inspires all to be strong, happy, and see the world through their good eye. Good luck with school and always study hard!

-Raquel Calles