Lindsay Apaza '22
It has been a great experience and I couldn’t have asked for a better one. I have never felt out of place at the beach because everyone here is welcoming and students support one another. I am also thankful for the EOP program because I wouldn’t be successful without their dedication and commitment to helping students further their education and success in college. I definitely want to express my gratitude to the Africana Studies department at the beach; I encourage students to take a class in any ethnic studies department because everyone should take the chance to learn history without the Eurocentric glasses. That being said, my experience at the beach has been amazing and I am glad to be a part of this community.
Initially I had never heard of Long Beach because my world consisted of Downey and Bell Gardens, however I made the choice to go to CSULB because of the tuition costs, the short distance from home and being accepted to their EOP program. I do not regret it and I fell in love with the campus the summer before freshman year of college!
I am planning to apply to graduate schools to Africana Studies programs in order to further research about the lack of black student population in higher education.
The reason I got involved with myBEACH and CSULB Alumni is to stay connected to CSULB and to help support other students. As a first generation student, I recognize and have been living the struggles and it is worse when it seems that there is no support system or someone to tell you that those feelings of inadequacy, self doubt, and imposter syndrome are normal. I definitely want to guide and mentor students here at The Beach.
