Abraham Ruben Velasquez

• What does being a First-Generation College Graduate mean to you?

It means a heavy weight of responsibility, that you must build the house of a better life on the foundation your family has made and serve as an example of how to do it. At times it means you are the first to get to pursue your dreams to the fullest, but sometimes it also means your dreams come second after success and stability.

• What is your proudest moment from your time at UCSD?

Was completing a 16 page comic for a Visual arts midterm. It was a class I decided to take just for fun and because I wanted to take an easy 4th class. I ended up investing more time into this class than my actual major and minor classes, creating this 16 page midterm that was twice as long as the limit. This moment reignited my passion for art which I felt was something I would have to leave behind, allowing me to continue doing art in college, meeting fellow artists, and using my art both for myself and for activism.

• Who are the family members, friends or loved ones who have been most influential throughout your college journey? Are there any words of gratitude you would like to share with them?

Mother and Sister: Both of whom I called far little, but served as inspirations, motivations, and support for getting through my college career away from home.

Jocelyn, Idally, and Rosa: The greatest friends I've made in college and who I've known for since my first year. Without them I would have not made it through these years, their support, their advice, their car rides, and humor helped me grow and flourish and meeting so many amazing people.

Rosie, Jodie, and Max: Three amazing artists I met back in that Vis 1 class who put in the work to create an amazing artist org that has allowed to stay connected to my art and feel that much more at home here these past 3 years.

• Who are the staff, faculty or mentors who have been most influential throughout your college journey? Are there any words of gratitude you would like to share with them?

Lindsay Romasanta: Director of Success Coaching who helped create Student Success Coaching allowing me to meet amazing people, gain support as a first gen student but also given me the chance to support other first gen as a peer coach.

Suzan Cioffi and Jim Lin: The director of Chancellor's Scholars program and my alumni mentor through the program. Without the program I would not be attending UCSD and without my mentor I would have struggle to see the bigger picture of my journey and looked outward far too little.

Emme Domingo: My EDS advisor for 3 years who helped guide me through my college career, gave me opportunities to become more involved, and was there for me at my most vulnerable.

• What do you plan or hope to do after graduating?

Short term: I will be continuing at UCSD for another year to get my M.Ed and Teaching Credential

Long term: Will return home to be a math teacher for 5 years before deciding whether to continue teaching or get an Ed.D to be an administrator or enter Student Retention and Success at a University level

Campus Affiliations

Campus Involvement

• Peer Mentor, Student Success Coaching

• Member, Multi-Identity Art Collective

• Student Ambassador, Education Studies

• Member, Chancellor's Scholars

Student Retention & Success Programs

• Student Success Coaching Program

• Academic Enrichment Programs - McNair Fellowship