Hello, I'm Diana Vasquez and I'm a Family and Consumer Sciences major at CSU Sacramento. I'm a first generation undocu student, but rather than discouraging me,  this is what drives me to put my full effort and dedication into everything I do, especially pursuing a higher education.  My decision to attend Sac State and major in FACS was no different. My passion for teaching and my interest in the science of every day living introduced me to the field of Family and Consumer Sciences Education.  Being one of the only colleges in California that still offers the Family and Consumer Sciences pre-credential major and that provides resources for undocumented students, Sac State was undeniably the best option for me. 

Before my first semester of college, reading and writing were the most daunting parts of my education. Having to read and annotate a text or write an essay for any class was frustrating and oftentimes just plain boring. This was primarily because I knew that I would have little control over the organization and development of my essay and because my high school English classes would never meet me where I was as a writer. All my English classes either made me feel bored and like I could put in little to no effort or they made me feel completely lost and confused due to the lack of guidance. 

Despite the lack of opportunities to develop my writing and reading comprehension skills, I have always thought myself to be an adequate writer and reader. I did not realize how much room I had left for improvement until I took English 5 this semester. This course was that opportunity for growth that I was missing. It made me realize that I was reading without asking questions and writing without reading. Over the course of this semester I have strengthened my reading comprehension and learned to look beyond the words on the page. I am able to read, analyze, and revise my writing and express my ideas in a cohesive manner. Although I still struggle with coherence and cohesion in my writing,  I feel more confident in the revision process and learned that writing is a long process that requires my full attention and dedication.