Joelle aspires to pursue politics through the intersection of policy making, big data, and advocacy.
Roadmap.
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"Find out what you are passionate about, not what looks good on an application. This will make you more invested in your work and creates an avenue that motivates you outside of test scores."
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Pictured here is my team for Wake Up Stand Up, an annual sexual harassment seminar that I founded in my sophomore year
MILESTONES
My career roadmap has been somewhat defined.
During my freshman year, I emailed Dr. Van Hook and inquired about an internship position. I wanted to learn from a local female leader and be involved in the behind the scenes environment of an institution I belonged to. This internship opened up a plethora of networking opportunities in SCV.
During my sophomore year, I joined a debate team and fell in love with legal argumentation and critical theory. I have always had a passion for argumentation but was able to transform it into an organized and competitive structure. Debate is the foundation of why I am passionate about advocacy and how I view the world around me.
After watching a Netflix documentary about the prevalence of sexual assault on college campuses, I decided to create a prevention seminar that was grassroots and student-run. I learned that I thrive in an environment of student action and community outreach.
Running Wake Up Stand Up for three years taught me that I enjoy community-based outreach and activism rather than journalistic activism. While both are vital to the continuation of a healthy democracy, I learned that I enjoy the environment of project-based learning and growth.
When I began WUSU, I also met my mentor Professor Shana Williams. Having a mentor allowed me to gain invaluable advice on both my individual and educational growth. I began to take an interest in education reform for high school students as well as curriculum development.
Loyola Law School’s Project for the Innocent was especially impactful to my career development. It allowed me to see firsthand accounts of injustice in my own community and beyond. I also gained a better understanding of the legal world through an unconventional perspective.
EXPERIENCE
Here are my extracurriculars relevant to this pathway
DURING MY HIGH SCHOOL CAREER
Wake Up, Stand Up Founder
Intern at Dr. Dianne Van Hook’s Office
Captain of a student-run debate team (GPA Debate)
Intern at Loyola Law School’s Project for the Innocent
Human Rights Watch Student Task Force Co-President
DURING MY COLLEGE CAREER
Currently waiting to step foot on campus!
Campaign Manager for Sebastian Cazares, COC Board of Trustees
CAREER
What I'm currently doing/hope to do
I’m hoping to pursue Political Science & Data Science. Through COC classes, I’ve grown interested in the intersection of policy making, big data, and advocacy. My pursuit in politics is fueled by the challenges of the field: the nuances of diplomacy and the ungrasped comprehension of global hegemony.
ADVICE
How to maximize my time in high school?
Advice #1: Find out what you are passionate about, not what looks good on an application. This will make you more invested in your work and creates an avenue that motivates you outside of test scores.
Advice #2: Don’t be afraid to venture out to new fields. This is one of my biggest regrets! I wish I dipped into many more fields to gain insight and a possible new path.
Advice #3: Spend your summers wisely: with rest and passion! Don’t fill up all your summers with classes if you don’t need to. I still finished all my GEs and got an AA with three free summers. With that time, I gained new experiences through internships and organizations.
Advice #4: Connect with upperclassmen, AOC teachers, or COC professors to gain mentors that will impact your life in such positive ways. Whether it be career based or personal growth, a perspective of someone who has been in your shoes can be very reassuring and helpful during turbulent times.
