BObo
New member
Hi everyone! I'm Doreen, and I just graduated from UC Davis with a double major in Chicano Studies and Spanish and a minor in Education. I wanted to share my story because four years ago, I never thought I'd be here—and none of it would have been possible without a California scholarship that believed in me before I believed in myself.
I grew up in Watts and graduated from Jordan High School in 2021. I'll never forget the moment I got the email saying I'd received the Watkins Fellowship. I told my mom, and we both just started crying. As a first-generation student, that $48,000 California scholarship meant everything—it wasn't just money, it was hope .
But here's the thing I didn't expect: my first year at Davis was ROUGH. I was so homesick I could barely function. I failed classes. I ended up on academic probation. There were so many moments I wanted to give up.
What saved me wasn't just the financial support—it was the mentorship that came with this California scholarship. My Watkins advisors, Ash and Jamie, didn't just check in on my grades. They helped me emotionally. They found campus resources for me. They encouraged me and even suggested I explore Chicano Studies since I was doing well in those classes .
That suggestion changed everything. The more I learned about my community and culture, the more I connected with my education. I found my purpose.
The scholarship also taught me practical life skills—resume writing, filing taxes, managing money. Things my parents couldn't teach me because they never had the opportunity to go to college .
Now I'm a college graduate, and my dad calls me "Dorito" and tells me how proud he is. My younger sister is taking AP classes, and I get to be her role model.
If you're from a community that's underrepresented in higher education, please apply for every California scholarship you can find. You belong here. You can do this. Has anyone else received the Watkins Fellowship or similar California scholarships? I'd love to connect!
I grew up in Watts and graduated from Jordan High School in 2021. I'll never forget the moment I got the email saying I'd received the Watkins Fellowship. I told my mom, and we both just started crying. As a first-generation student, that $48,000 California scholarship meant everything—it wasn't just money, it was hope .
But here's the thing I didn't expect: my first year at Davis was ROUGH. I was so homesick I could barely function. I failed classes. I ended up on academic probation. There were so many moments I wanted to give up.
What saved me wasn't just the financial support—it was the mentorship that came with this California scholarship. My Watkins advisors, Ash and Jamie, didn't just check in on my grades. They helped me emotionally. They found campus resources for me. They encouraged me and even suggested I explore Chicano Studies since I was doing well in those classes .
That suggestion changed everything. The more I learned about my community and culture, the more I connected with my education. I found my purpose.
The scholarship also taught me practical life skills—resume writing, filing taxes, managing money. Things my parents couldn't teach me because they never had the opportunity to go to college .
Now I'm a college graduate, and my dad calls me "Dorito" and tells me how proud he is. My younger sister is taking AP classes, and I get to be her role model.
If you're from a community that's underrepresented in higher education, please apply for every California scholarship you can find. You belong here. You can do this. Has anyone else received the Watkins Fellowship or similar California scholarships? I'd love to connect!
