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>> If I would have chosen another university, I would have dropped out of college.
I would have not had the aspiration to want to seek graduate school.
Because of CSUSB, I truly do see that I can have a future and not struggle.
I came in to CSUSB very shy.
My very first speech or presentation, I cried.
I like walked out.
I told myself, oh, no, like everyone's going to see me and remember me that I cried.
And I told myself, I'm going to have people remember me
as being an advocate and being proud and being loud.
During my undergrad I was diagnosed with cancer.
Now I'm a cancer survivor.
I was about to start the social work program.
Everything was moving great.
I just thought I was so tired one day.
And then I actually got diagnosed in Mexico.
And after, unfortunately, I was so far behind
in the social work program that I was asked to leave.
At that point I had no idea what was going to happen.
I went to the Model UN, the Director Dr. Grisham.
And I was like, I don't know what to do.
And he really kind of opened up his door.
Because of Dr. Grisham, I really owed a lot to him.
And actually the whole college
of SBS is probably the reason why I continued with my education.
There's something about the faculty here that's really special.
They understand our students.
We've faced a lot of adversities, and the faculty here value you as a person.
They see, okay, what's going on with your life?
How can I help you to be where you want to be?
My mission or one of the things that I really wanted to do was give back to the community
because this community, specifically CSUSB, has given so much to me.
Not only in scholarships and grants, but really opportunities to be a leader.
I'm the President and CEO of Associated Students, Incorporated.
And I have the privilege of leading the all female board this year.
This year, for the first time ever in the history of CSUSB, the board is women.
And that's something that's very, very special to my heart I would say
because I've advocated for women.
It's empowering really to see the women
on the board really utilize their voice and say what they want.
And we're really pushing the bar this year.
Students should be involved on campus really because it will help you, not only be on track
with your academics, you'll make lifelong friends.
And you'll have opportunities that you would probably not really be exposed
to if you weren't involved.
Being at CSUSB, it's making me define my future.
Every single program that I've done, every single place that I've traveled to,
I don't think I could have probably ever done that if it wasn't for CSUSB.
It's really empowered me to be the empowered woman that I am.
It's defined my future, and I see it defining it forever ever.
And now I could see myself doing things that I probably would have never imagined.
My name is Graciela Moran.
I'm a coyote for life, and I love CSUSB.
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