Danica Framel

What are some challenges that you feel students of color might face at CSUF?

I feel like some challenges students of color face at CSUF is that there can at times feel like there is a false sense of community at our campus. As a student of color sometimes it’s hard to find belongingness, especially because it feels like this sense of community can be hidden at times. Take DIRC and other clubs like VSA or PASA. Sometimes these places and clubs are hidden to students of color. Another challenge that students of color might face at CSUF is when they are the first of the few college graduates of their families. This idea was made apparent to myself this semester when I realized I was graduating this semester. From this realization, I immediately felt this pressure and felt that so much was riding on me since I’ll be the first of the few graduates among my family.

 If you were to complete the statement “I am not” how would you complete this statement and what is important to you for others to know. 

I am not overly sensitive. Something that is important for others to know is that at times like now, given our current social climate, sensitivity towards ourselves and others is essential to make a progressive society. I feel like as of recently, we lack so much sensitivity for one another that has led us to be experiencing these kinds of issues.

If you were to complete the statement “I am” how would you complete this statement and what is important for others to know about you?

I am compassionate. Something I think that is important for others to know about myself is that I genuinely care and empathize with those I hold close in my life. 

In your work as Undergraduate Course Assistants, as you’ve reviewed the students work what things you learned from either the research, the narratives or the illustrations? What are you inspired to do as a result?

One thing that I learned from this research and the students while working as Undergraduate Course Assistant, is that I’ve learned so much insight from the students and the challenges they or their ethnic group faces on the daily. Though with some students I don’t identify as part of their ethnic group, hearing the perspectives from the students about the current climates of society allows me to empathize with them and other ethnic groups more.