South Gate, CA
Age
31
Gender
Female
Ethnicity
Hispanic/Latino
Religion
Christian
Church
Nondenominational
Hobbies and interests
Writing
Church
Bible Study
Reading
Social Justice
Sociology
Reading
Christianity
Adult Fiction
Literature
Literary Fiction
Classics
I read books daily
US CITIZENSHIP
US Citizen
FIRST GENERATION STUDENT
Yes
Helen Sosa
1,605
Bold Points1x
FinalistHelen Sosa
1,605
Bold Points1x
FinalistBio
Hello, I recently graduated with my B.A in Sociology at CSULA. I have worked in the medical field for over 10 years and I have finally decided to make a career change. This change was inspired by watching many of my young patients suffer at such a young age from not having the appropriate resources to advance in their lives. I began wanting to get involved in Social Work, but as my education progressed I realized that in order to truly make an impact I would have to go further into education. I am now looking into continuing higher education for my Masters in education. It is a life long dream to retire as a teacher. With these opportunities I hope to inspire change and growth in the lives of my future students.
Education
University of California-Los Angeles
Bachelor's degree programMajors:
- Sociology
Minors:
- Law
GPA:
3
East Los Angeles College
Associate's degree programMajors:
- Sociology
GPA:
3.5
International Studies Learning Center
High SchoolGPA:
2.8
Miscellaneous
Desired degree level:
Doctoral degree program (PhD, MD, JD, etc.)
Graduate schools of interest:
Transfer schools of interest:
Majors of interest:
Career
Dream career field:
Law Practice
Dream career goals:
Juvenile attorney
CNA
Goldstar Healthcare2013 – 20141 yearCNA
Pasadena Park Healthcare2015 – 20172 yearsRNA
Imperial Crest Healthcare2017 – 20192 yearsOncology Unit
UCLA2019 – 20212 yearsOncology Unit
Presbyterian Inter community Hospital2020 – Present4 years
Sports
Powerlifting
Junior Varsity2021 – Present3 years
Public services
Volunteering
Faith Family Center — usher2019 – Present
Future Interests
Advocacy
Politics
Volunteering
Ashley M. Lopez Foster Care Scholarship
While in foster care, one of the sessions speaking with my juvenile attorney she was able to give me a ward of the court letter signed by her. At the time I was a teenager and I didn’t know how valuable this letter was. It became my golden ticket to higher education. Looking back couple years later, it was this day I was inspired to one day do the same for other foster kids. As a Sociology major with an emphasis in Society and Law I hope to accomplish my JD degree and practice law here in the state of California. I plan to attend law school after completing my Sociology bachelor’s degree.
I began originally with the intent of becoming a social worker, as a foster child during my childhood this is the career that helped guide me through my life. The desire to help others accomplish their own goals was born in me then. As I continued my education I realized that, why not go for a lawyer? Why not go for my original idea to become a key person in another foster child’s life? Seeing the young Latina attorney inspired me that despite what I looked like I could also become a lawyer. I didn’t havre to stop at social work.
As I previously mentioned, my experience with being a foster child molded this dream in me by realizing that a Juvenile attorney is usually the last person that has the ability to intervene in the ruling of the court in a juvenile’s case. So many stories growing up in foster care I have heard about social injustice. Learning about social issues like school to prison pipeline became something I grew passionate about. As a young Latina from a low income background statically I should have been pregnant or abusing drugs but to God all the glory I have not been involved in any of this. On the contrary, not only have I surpassed my life expectancy of my neighborhood but through the many help of mentors in school and my church I have surpassed my educational goals and on the way to complete my school.
I believe it is easy to fall into despair and hopelessness when raised in an atmosphere of street crime and poor socioeconomic status. Regardless of this, I do believe I am not a product of my environment. If it has taught me anything, is that out of such low income one can come out with high spirits, allowing hardships and misfortunes to manifest into fuel and determination to prosper not only financially, but in education. My favorite quote is by a Christian author Shawn Bolz in one of his books he wrote, “Higher education is a form of intercession for generations to come.” I took this quote to heart and I have the deep conviction that my pursuit of higher education will not only impact my generation but those like me, those foster kids who felt the world was against them. Now they too, will see that it is possible to enter the real business world with more to offer than just a brown face.