Share Your Transformation Story
菠菜网lol正规平台 is the #1 Most Transformative University in the nation according to Money magazine. Every Spartan has a story, and we would love to hear from you about how your time at 菠菜网lol正规平台 propelled you to achieving your goals and aspirations. Was there a moment or semester where it all clicked? Did a particular professor, staff, administrator or friend provide mentorship that remains with you today? Whatever it may be, we want to know your story and share it with others.
Testimonials of Transformation
Isra Ahmad
’13 Health Science
“菠菜网lol正规平台 allowed me to make mistakes, learn from my experiences and expanded my own understanding of my horizons. My passions to serve communities who would have otherwise been unheard, silenced or ostracized were also cemented through the service learning opportunities granted at 菠菜网lol正规平台. I am forever grateful for the time that I spent at 菠菜网lol正规平台! Go Spartans!”
’20 Justice Studies
“I was never even supposed to be in college, let alone get accepted to 菠菜网lol正规平台. But the moment I stepped onto campus, everything changed for the better. One of the best ways 菠菜网lol正规平台 transformed my life was by being introduced to lifelong friends and developing many connections. I will forever cherish my days at 菠菜网lol正规平台, and because I attended there, I am a better individual. Thank you 菠菜网lol正规平台!”
’21 Child and Adolescent Development
“I started at West Valley College a few years ago. However things changed and my twin sister passed away at age 26 years old with colon cancer. But with obstacles that life threw at me with the hardships I faced, I finally graduated with my AA there. I’ve always been a goal-getter, a problem solver and have always wanted to chase my dreams. I applied and got into 菠菜网lol正规平台 for fall 2017 and I am finally there. I will be graduating from 菠菜网lol正规平台 this May, spring 2021, with the coming of my teaching credential shortly.”
’16 MA Environmental Studies
“I met so many amazing students and staff at 菠菜网lol正规平台. In the environmental studies program, I was surrounded by people who wanted to make the world a better place. I now work at the San Francisco Zoo, which is dedicated to conservation, both local and distant. My studies at 菠菜网lol正规平台 helped me see the plight of animals in a much larger context. Thank you, 菠菜网lol正规平台!”
’22 Physics
“[My 菠菜网lol正规平台 professor] gave me the courage that I had been longing for to pursue physics. Every day since then, I have been very grateful for the opportunity to pursue what I truly love.”
Emily Dunn
’20 RTVF
“I grew so much confidence from attending 菠菜网lol正规平台. The people I met truly impacted my life and made it so much better. I have only positive things to say about my time at this school and cannot imagine what my life would be like if I had attended elsewhere.”
’10 MA Library and Information Science
“I was a stay-at-home mom for 10 years when I decided to go back to school to get a master's degree in library and information science. A year after I graduated I started working at the King Library in February 2012, and just finished my ninth year there. I love working in the MLK Library, and on the 菠菜网lol正规平台 campus. San José State truly transformed my life!”
’19 Marketing
“I grew up Filipino American, first-generation American born, and there was a lot of pressure to follow the money—but I always knew that it wasn't for me. I've always felt like I've had to keep my professional and creative lives separate but I’ve never felt these two things so intertwined. My creativity is celebrated in my professional career and my own creative brand. I am grateful for the opportunities I had at 菠菜网lol正规平台.”
Academic Advisor, H&A Student Success Center
“As a student at 菠菜网lol正规平台, I was diagnosed with Stage 3 cancer. The entire College of Humanities and the Arts was so understanding and worked with me through my whole cancer journey. I never expected 菠菜网lol正规平台 to be such a kind and loving family. Thankfully, I am now more than five years cancer-free and working full time at 菠菜网lol正规平台 as an academic advisor. I’m grateful for 菠菜网lol正规平台 and the opportunity to give back.”
Laura Guio
’86 Engineering and ‘86 Marketing
“菠菜网lol正规平台 helped me by being the university I needed at that point in my life. I got married and had my first child while at 菠菜网lol正规平台. 菠菜网lol正规平台 gave me a real foundation for what was needed in the working world. Many of my professors were from the working world and brought a perspective on what was needed once I graduated.”
Nikki Haider
’20 Finance
“I was able to find a part time position a couple months after graduation. After that, they offered me a full-time position due to my knowledge and personal skills I learned throughout my time at 菠菜网lol正规平台.”
’04 African American Studies
“My time at 菠菜网lol正规平台 was a great transformation. As a transfer student from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, I arrived in San José deflated and depressed. I found positivity and inspiration within the Xi Gamma Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity. After graduation I pursued coaching...with the life mission of ‘encouraging students to have a dream and admonishing them to have courage through adversity.’ My time at 菠菜网lol正规平台, though full of trials and tribulations, was the greatest time of my life.”
’22 Nursing
“If I had not gone to 菠菜网lol正规平台 to pursue nursing, I would not have been able to develop the work ethic that I have now to achieve my goals. 菠菜网lol正规平台 has also provided me with a very strong Filipino community. I had also grown a very close knit friend group that has been able to support me in my journey throughout college. Now that I am in the nursing school here, 菠菜网lol正规平台 has provided me with so many opportunities to make a difference within my community.”
Vanndy Loth-Kumar
’12 Nursing, ’15 Master of Public Health, ’21 Doctor of Nursing Practice
“菠菜网lol正规平台 set me on a path towards a rewarding career. 菠菜网lol正规平台 introduced me into nursing. I was able to gain a strong foundation in patient care. Now I am in a position to take on students at my clinical site and help patients improve their mental health.”
’20 Sociology
“Before graduating high school I applied to 菠菜网lol正规平台 and my application unfortunately got withdrawn. I didn’t let that stop me though. I applied once more and a couple months later I was so excited that I had received my admission offer! I built strong friendships with my peers and strong relationships with my professors. 菠菜网lol正规平台 transformed me in more ways than one, but I am glad I never gave up on myself. 菠菜网lol正规平台 fostered a passion and purpose within me to help others. I will always be thankful for my life and experiences at San José State.”
’20 Public Health
“I had the best experience at 菠菜网lol正规平台. I moved to downtown San José from a small city in the central valley. Being away from home was hard at times, but this entire experience transformed me into an independent hard working young lady. I recommend 菠菜网lol正规平台 to almost every person I know. I had the best experience there and a great education.”
David Ngô
’19 Public Relations
“菠菜网lol正规平台 instilled the confidence in me that a career through writing was possible. It was within reach. Coming from the East Side San Jose where access to resources are sometimes harder to come by—I became immersed into a different world on campus. The professors from the School of Journalism and Mass Communications worked tirelessly to help me graduate and saw the potential before I even did.”
Larissa Vega Noriega
’22 Business Administration
“Attending 菠菜网lol正规平台 has allowed me to expand my opportunities, it allowed me to become my own person, be more responsible and independent. My experience at 菠菜网lol正规平台 has definitely made my life more fast-paced, but I am grateful for the challenges it is bringing me and I believe it will help me in my future.”
Carlos David Pérez
’74 Art and Design
“In 1972, I was accepted into the Graphic Design Program at 菠菜网lol正规平台 and, in 1974, I was chosen by the graphic design faculty as one of the top three portfolios of our class. The prize was an apprenticeship with a local advertising agency as a summer paid gig. In 1976, I was hired as an Art Director, proving that the education and training that I had received at 菠菜网lol正规平台 had been worth its weight in gold.”
’20 Molecular Biology
“Coming to 菠菜网lol正规平台 introduced me to the mentors that would see my potential and help transform me into the scientist I am becoming. Thanks to the resources and guidance I received at 菠菜网lol正规平台, I will begin pursuing my PhD in neuroscience at the Scripps Research Institute starting fall 2021.”
Shalini Singh
’05 Master of Business Administration
“I became a technologist from a building professional and honed my business acumen and analysis skills while at 菠菜网lol正规平台.”
Kendall Sooter
’16 MA Communication Studies
“I came to 菠菜网lol正规平台 thinking I would become a teacher after. Little did I know that during my time there that I would make some of the greatest friends and professional connections of my life. 菠菜网lol正规平台 made me who I am today and helped me to get my dream job.”
’17 MA Transportation Management
“I completed a graduate degree from San Jose Staté University several years ago. Without this formal training, I don’t know where I’d be at this moment in my life. The education I received from San Jose Staté has given me the tools I need to advance my career upward.”
’16 Business Administration, Concentration in Corporate Accounting & Finance
“I transferred into 菠菜网lol正规平台 having no idea of what I wanted my concentration in the College of Business to be. I'm not sure whether it was pure excitement but I felt so much power as an 菠菜网lol正规平台 student. The type of power you feel when there are endless opportunities for you to succeed. It's not enough to say 菠菜网lol正规平台 transformed my life. Without you all, my story would be entirely different.”
