Perla Andrea Ordones

She/Her/Hers

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

Being able to have gone to college means a lot to me. It was not only the first step towards a better life for me, but it meant a lot for my family too. My family has faced a lot of hardship and struggled a lot for me to be where I am today. I know I’ve made them proud and I hope I inspired and set a precedent of what we can achieve for those who come after me from my family.

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

I don’t think I could name a proudest moment from my time at UCSD. It’s been tough these last four years but it's been filled with so much happiness at the same time. I feel pride each time I pass a class and each time a new quarter starts. I’m happy each Friday I got to spend time at my club playing music from things I loved. I’m so thankful for each and every person I met during my time here and I don’t plan to forget a single moment of it.

• What advice do you have for current or future first-generation students?

My advice to the next generation is to get sleep and keep on pushing forward. I have to admit, things got really tough here at times. I had a lot of sleepless nights as I slaved away at assignments and sometimes I felt like I didn’t want to continue. I cried and got frustrated more times than I could count. But I came back each time because I knew it was worth it at the end of the day. You might feel like this too but if you keep your goal in mind, you can achieve great things. Just don’t let your stress and frustrations make you forget why you’re there. You’ll do amazing.

• 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?

First and foremost, I have to thank my brothers for always being there for me, each in their own unique ways. Dave, you were always there to annoy me and give me the distraction I needed when I was down. Mario, you always supported me in whatever I did which means more to me than you’ll ever know. Thanks for always coming to my concerts and visiting whenever you could. Thank you mom for always loving me even when I acted out and for always being interested in the things I do. I always love and appreciate you even if I don’t always show it. Thanks dad for driving me back home on the weekends. Thank you to Anneka, Melissa, Tony, Elsa, and all the friends I kept and made during these past four years. I definitely wouldn’t have made it this far without your support and your presence that always kept me smiling. Thanks to all my other family members who loved me and supported me in all the ways they could. I love each and every one of you so much and I always will.

• 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?

Thanks to all the Oasis staff who helped me adjust my first year of college. I want to give special thanks to Vivienne who was my RA during Summer Bridge and helped me out during some tough times in my life. Thanks to my professors like Gedeon and for talking to me and giving me a chance to show you what I could do. I learned so much from all my professors but especially you. Thanks for everything.

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

After I graduate, I plan to take a break and work for a bit to see what I really want to do. Once I figure that out, I plan to go back to school and get my masters in what I’m really passionate about. Until then, I’ll explore a bit more and make new connections that I’ll use in the future.

Campus Affiliations

Campus Involvement

• Art Committee Chair

• Intermission Orchestra at UCSD

Student Retention & Success Programs

• OASIS - Summer Bridge