TRIO SSSP Student Testimonials

Misra Abdullahi (2024 - 2025 Cohort) - Psychology

I applied to TRIO SSSP not knowing what I was getting myself into, but now I can proudly say it was the highlight of my summer and one of the most meaningful parts of my transition to UC San Diego. As a Somali American and first-generation college student, transferring to UCSD was both an exciting and overwhelming opportunity. While I was grateful for the chance to continue my education at such a prestigious university, I quickly realized how much I didn’t know. How to register for classes, where to go for support, or how to build a sense of community in a space that initially felt unfamiliar.
TRIO SSSP changed all of that. The Summer Experience program introduced me to mentors, staff, and students who understood my background and genuinely wanted to help me succeed. It gave me the tools and confidence to navigate UCSD's academic system and introduced me to the many resources available to support students like me. From one-on-one mentorships, to having professors come and give us a warm welcome to the new environment. More importantly, it gave me a safe and welcoming space where I could be my most authentic self and where my identity was valued and supported.
One of the most impactful parts of TRIO was the friendships I formed. The connections I made during that first summer weren’t just temporary—we bonded through shared experiences and challenges, and those friendships have lasted beyond the program. To this day, I still hang out with many of the friends I met through TRIO, and we continue to support and uplift each other throughout our college journeys.
TRIO didn’t just help me adjust to UCSD, it gave me the foundation to thrive here, both academically and personally, and provided a community I’ll always be grateful for.

Ada Jarquin (2023 - 2024 Cohort) - Global Health

When I was accepted to UCSD, I accepted the offer to the only school I hadn’t visited before nor had any knowledge of. I thought I was going to go in alone and have to figure things out on my own once I was there. Thankfully, I received an invitation to apply to TRIO SSS and I completed the application a few hours before the deadline. Looking back, I wasn’t even going to submit my application but now I don’t know where I would have been if I hadn’t. TRIO SSS gave me the opportunity to be in the Summer Experience and get a sense of how my life was going to look like for the four years. It also introduced me to a few friends who I hold strong bonds with till this day. To this day, TRIO SSS continues to supply me with the resources and opportunities that have guided me so far in my first two years. That includes workshops on time management in college, the basics to networking, and developing interviewing skills. TRIO SSS advocates for students like me, first-generation and low income, to thrive and pursue higher education. With the help of the coordinators and mentors, all of my uncertainties have been answered and I have been redirected towards better. TRIO SSS welcomed me and became a second family on campus being far from home. Thanks to them, I have been able to stand up for myself, find jobs on campus, and really start to pursue my interests in the Global Health Field.

Jesus Gomez (2021 - 2022 Cohort) - Mathematics

Being a first-generation college student from a low-income and underrepresented area, I was clueless, afraid, and alone. Being the youngest in my family and paving the way for my nieces and nephews to see, I made it my mission to make the most out of my college experience and find out every little thing I can to help other students like me. After participating in TRIO's summer experience and meeting the staff, mentors, and other TRIO members, I felt less clueless, less afraid, and less alone. I learned about the different resources on campus, navigating financial aid and course enrollment, and developed long-lasting relationships with my mentor, tutors, and staff. Going through a lot of academic hardships took a toll on me, and it felt like I was drowning. I didn't know how to stay afloat or how to react. TRIO was always there to support me and to guide me in the right direction, despite any factors and circumstances I was going through. TRIO was there for my dance performances, for my grad school process, for when I finally passed a class I had retaken, for every college milestone that I didn't know were milestones. I know for sure that without TRIO, I wouldn't be the same person I am today.

Vishwa Pandya (2021-2022 Cohort) - Ecology, Behavior & Evolution

As a transfer student, I had a lot of worries on my mind before starting at UCSD. How do I enroll in my classes? How will I adapt to a quarter system schedule? Will I be able to make any friends? How can I make up for lost time? Luckily, I was able to figure out the answers to all those questions through TRiO SSSP. The Summer Experience was so incredibly helpful in getting me adapted to the school, but it also gave me a community like no other to rely on after 2 years of virtual school. I was able to make connections with other transfer students who were going through the same experience, even if it was online. After going to all the workshops and events put on, I definitely felt at ease when thinking about my future both at UCSD and after, before I even started. I struggled immensely during my first quarter, but I was able to reach out to my amazing mentor provided by SSSP.  The resources provided to me through the program got me through the roughest of times and helped lift me up. It truly is a space that will allow you to grow, and I cannot imagine my time at UCSD (nor do I want to) without TRIO SSSP. 

Ba Mai (2020 - 2021 Cohort) - Computer Engineering