Peer Connections SI Leaders

Aafreen A.
Name: Aafreen Ahsan
Major: Psychology
Role: SI Leader

  • When I started at SJSU, I wish I had known… to really go out of your way to get what you want - talk to new people, professors, advisors and genuinely do whatever it takes!
  • My best strategy for college success is… be open to everything!

Journey A.
Name: Journey Anderson
Major: Psychology
Role: SI Leader

  • When I started at SJSU, I wish I had known… how to add classes and drop classes. Specifically, when it comes to adding classes I wish I had known there was a specific roadmap I could reference in my first semester. 
  • My best strategy for college success is… ask questions! As the saying goes, you miss 100% of the shots you don't take. In the long run, asking questions will evoke higher levels of clarification and comprehension! It can feel intimidating but it will help your overall success.

CJ A.
Name: CJ Antonio
Major: Accounting
Role: SI Leader

  • When I started at SJSU, I wish I had known… to take advantage of resources like the Career Center and Peer Connections.
  • My best strategy for college success is… meeting as many people and taking advantage of all the free campus resources. I try to join clubs and honor societies with students with the same major to make lasting connections. All the free campus resources have allowed me to greatly improve my resume and develop so much professionally. 

Udayan A.
Name: Udayan Atreya
Major: Computer Science
Role: SI Leader

  • When I started at SJSU, I wish I had known… that everyone is on their own journey and there's no sense in comparing your achievements with your peers.
  • My best strategy for college success is… making the best out of all the opportunities that come my way. And also maintaining a planner. 

Samriti D.
Name: Samriti Dhamija
Major: Psychology
Role: SI Leader

  • When I started at SJSU, I wish I had known…
  • My best strategy for college success is…

Michelle D.
Name: Michelle Duong
Major: Biological Science
Role: SI Leader

  • When I started at SJSU, I wish I had known… that it's okay not to have everything figured out right away. College is so different from high school, and I definitely put too much pressure on myself to adjust quickly. It's important to be engaged on campus and to be on top of your courses, but it's okay to do it at different paces and to take your time. 
  • My best strategy for college success is… planning ahead and starting strong so that the end of the semester is more manageable. Cumulative finals and final projects make it super overwhelming, so keeping grades up and building good habits early will reward you in the long run.

Anisa E.
Name: Anisa Estrada
Major: Forensic Science
Role: SI Leader

  • When I started at SJSU, I wish I had known… that there are so many available resources for students to utilize to help them succeed.
  • My best strategy for college success is… finding balance in all the aspects of your life, such as academically, personally, professionally, etc.

Heavyn G.
Name: Heavyn Gamble
Major: Forensic Science
Role: SI Leader

  • When I started at SJSU, I wish I had known… how to get involved and how to utilize resources on campus. My freshman year was twice as hard as it could’ve been if I had only used on campus resources such as Peer Connections and got involved in extracurriculars/events to meet other students and find my own support system.
  • My best strategy for college success is… to organize your tasks for the day. College itself can be overwhelming even without assignments or finals, so it’s important to not stack things on top of each other and to give yourself enough time to get everything done.

Sarah H.
Name: Sarah Haddad
Major: Molecular Biology
Role: SI Leader

  • When I started at SJSU, I wish I had known…  about the importance of independence. High school to college was a big jump for me, in which I had to learn to be comfortable with myself and being in my own company. Additionally, it is important to step outside your comfort zone, and learn to be outgoing in order to make friends.
  • My best strategy for college success is… to keep a planner and stay on top of your work. As for me, organizing my schedule helped me de-stress and help me prioritize my tasks for the day. Otherwise, you can get overwhelmed very fast, especially with all the deadlines, exams, events, etc.

Charity H.
Name: Charity He
Major: Accounting
Role: SI Leader

  • When I started at SJSU, I wish I had known… about the various amount of resources and fun events available for free for students. It really helps you connect with the community as a commuter.
  • My best strategy for college success is… to find a study strategy that works for you and set aside time every leading up to an exam to study instead of cramming. 

Johnny H.
Name: Johnny Ho
Major: Pre-Nursing
Role: SI Leader

  • When I started at SJSU, I wish I had known… that it is completely okay to feel lost at first and to ask for help right away. I waited too long to talk to advisors and professors, but once I did, planning my classes and understanding my major became so much easier.
  • My best strategy for college success is… to have a good balance between social and school life.

YK
Name: YK
Major: Molecular Biology
Role: SI Leader

  • When I started at SJSU, I wish I had known… about the undergraduate research opportunity program. I had thought research was only for upper-class students!
  • My best strategy for college success is… manage time efficiently and stay balanced. Have fun and make memories with friends!

Kuan L.
Name: Kuan Lin
Major: Electrical Engineering
Role: SI Leader

  • When I started at SJSU, I wish I had known… that there is no such thing as "study-life balance" for electrical engineering student.
  • My best strategy for college success is… that it is important to build relationships with your professors and classmates. Networking is essential.

Ronaldo L.
Name: Ronaldo Lora
Major: History
Role: SI Leader

  • When I started at SJSU, I wish I had known… about all the academic resources provided to students to help succeed in their classes.
  • My best strategy for college success is… to have good time management skills. 

Name: Helia Maroofi
Major: Biological Science
Role: SI Leader

  • When I started at SJSU, I wish I had known… that there are multiple ways that the university is there to help and support me, and I am not alone in this path.
  • My best strategy for college success is… to plan everything accordingly. 

Josh M.
Name: Josh Milstead
Major: Engineering Technology
Role: SI Leader

  • When I started at SJSU, I wish I had known…
  • My best strategy for college success is… 

Arlene N.
Name: Arlene Nguyen
Major: Kinesiology
Role: SI Leader

  • When I started at SJSU, I wish I had known… about the different study spaces on campus.
  • My best strategy for college success is…  summarizing content without looking at notes.

Jordan R.
Name: Jordan Ratchford
Major: Economics
Role: SI Leader

  • When I started at SJSU, I wish I had known… the importance of joining clubs and networking.
  • My best strategy for college success is… managing my time effectively.

Autumn R.
Name: Autumn Ricketts
Major: Accounting
Role: SI Leader

  • When I started at SJSU, I wish I had known… how many different clubs and ways to get involved in the community there are. It's a good way to make new friends.
  • My best strategy for college success is… find a study method that works for you! Pomodoro, handwritten notes, accountability buddies, etc.; find something that will help you stay on track and make studying a part of your daily routine. 

Chelsea T.
Name: Chelsea Tran
Major: History
Role: SI Leader

  • When I started at SJSU, I wish I had known… how friendly the people were here. Truthfully, I wanted to just get college over with and get my degree done. Over time, I began warming up to those around me, and I was happily surprised to know that many of my peers, professors, and the staff here are friendly and open to helping me when I need it.
  • My best strategy for college success is… having friends in classes to bounce ideas off of. Sometimes a concept was really difficult for me to grasp or I didn't understand something, having someone else there to talk to about and to slowly work through those difficult concepts with (whether in class or out of class) was really helpful.

Marcella V.
Name: Marcella Valeroso
Major: Pre-Nursing
Role: SI Leader

  • When I started at SJSU, I wish I had known… the value of sleep and food. You really don't appreciate it till you're at school for 12 hours starving and sleep deprived with a headache. Save yourself the pain! Don't stay up scrolling on social media or playing games. Get 6-8 hours of sleep, pack yourself a good meal in the morning and stay hydrated and you'll avoid hanger and headaches. I promise you'll feel more productive and ready for those long lectures, labs, and breaks in between classes.
  • My best strategy for college success is…

    1) Ask your professors for more opportunities(research labs, course assistants, becoming a tutor, etc). 

    2) Always be curious! When you learn something in class, don't just take it at face value, research it and learn more  to deepen your understanding of the topic. 

    3) Time management! Don't waste time playing games and having fun when you should be studying. Remember, work hard play hard. You can make up fun time after you've passed your exam or finished your essay, but you can't so easily make up a grade.

    4) Keep a pep in your step! It's too often I meet people who say they hate school and want to go home and sleep. If your mindset is constantly that, then you'll experience burnout. I instead like to remind myself that I paid for my education, so I got to make it worth while. If I fail every now and then, oh well... it's something to learn from. If I have a 12 hour day ahead of me, well I better find people who will make the day feel shorter. I prefer to laugh and find a solution rather than get angry and complain incessantly about minuscule issues that can be resolved.

Vid V.
Name: Vid Vireak
Major: Computer Science
Role: SI Leader

  • When I started at SJSU, I wish I had known… that there are free consultations at the Student Health Center and that if they recommend any testing or medication, these are usually cheaper than outside of school.
  • My best strategy for college success is… make friends in every class. You never know when you might need help until suddenly, it's too late to email your professor. Always go to office hours, most professors are cool and go above and beyond to help you and recommend you resources and opportunities.

Annabel V.
Name: Annabel Vu
Major: Nutrition
Role: SI Leader

  • When I started at SJSU, I wish I had known… the importance of seeking support early on. Whether facing academic challenges or personal obstacles, reaching out promptly can have a significant impact on your success and well being. I also came to realize the value of self advocacy. It is extremely important to communicate openly with professors, utilize campus resources, and take initiative in addressing your needs because your voice truly does matter.
  • My best strategy for college success is… to cultivate a strong and reliable support system. Having peers, mentors, and friends who support you academically and personally makes a significant difference in staying focused, overcoming challenges, and achieving your goals. 

Emi W.
Name: Emi Wong
Major: Marketing
Role: SI Leader

  • When I started at SJSU, I wish I had known… about the numerous job fairs where I can make connections within my field.
  • My best strategy for college success is… to plan ahead so you don't get overwhelmed at the last minute.

Yvonne W.
Name: Yvonne Wong
Major: Ecology
Role: SI Leader

  • When I started at SJSU, I wish I had known… more about the resources SJSU has and the opportunities they provide. Reaching out to those around me and asking about these resources allowed me to improve on my academic work and access events that helped me explore new interests. 
  • My best strategy for college success is… don’t be afraid to reach out to others! College is all about making those meaningful connections. Connections is what’s going to help you get new opportunities before and after graduation. Take advantage of those opportunities, you might just learn something new about yourself. 

Ryan Y.
Name: Ryan Yu
Major: Biomedical Engineering
Role: SI Leader

  • When I started at SJSU, I wish I had known… that it was okay to have fun and go out a lot. I thought that being in college meant I had to study all the time and that it was no longer a time for fun, but I learned that it is also important to have balance. I think your first year should be filled with fun experiences and not just being in class and studying all the time. You should meet lots of new people, enjoy all the events the campus has to offer, and not worry so much about your next exam.
  • My best strategy for college success is… make sure you know what your professor is going to be talking about in the next lecture. When I walked into class with no idea what was going on, it was much harder than when I at least glanced at the lecture slides beforehand and had a general idea of what would be covered. This also cut down my study time for midterms and finals a lot because I already understood what was happening in class. Some professors don’t post lecture slides, but they usually have a class schedule that shows which topics will be covered each day, so you can look at that instead. It helps a ton.