Title: L&S College Adviser
Neighborhood: Social Sciences
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About Rachael
Joined the L&S Office of Undergraduate Advising in:
August 2024
Education
M.Ed in Education from University of California, San Diego
B.A. in Asian Studies from Northwestern University
What is your approach to advising?
As a college advisor, how I approach advising a student is first acknowledging that they are human first and foremost - their identity as a student is one of many other complementary yet sometimes competing identities. They also carry with them many life experiences that influence these identities, their hopes, their anxieties, and their approaches to future experiences. With that in mind, I would define my advising as the following:
My advising is based on equitable ownership. I want students to own their education and their own role within it. Providing the answers and/or solutions may help a student in the short-term, but this is not conducive to providing a student the tools to be successful on their own, nor feel empowered or in charge. I believe that many people of color often feel powerless, so it is especially important to me to guide underserved students how to find and access appropriate resources, as well as how to safely self-advocate within the current systems of inequality in which we unfortunately currently operate.
My advising is based on the growth mindset. Students each have their own strengths as well as areas in which they struggle; yet, many students focus on and view the latter through a negative lens. They call them "weaknesses" or "failures". However, I want to guide students to see these areas as opportunities, as well as coach them on how to leverage them in their current and future situations. To me, that involves understanding students' strengths and areas of growth, appreciating what makes those strengths effective in developing other skills, and gently guiding students' focus towards areas that need more immediate attention.
Finally, my advising is based on the whole. Through my language and coaching, I want to help students view their strengths, their areas of growth, their past selves and aspirations, and their current and shifting identities. I also want to shift students' focus from a narrowed lens on specific areas to recognizing that each area complements the other as well as contributes to their journey and the Cal community as a whole.
How did you get here?
I've always been interested in education, though I dipped in and out of this field for a number of years. After graduating with a BA in East Asian Languages and Civilizations from Northwestern University, I started teaching in Japan through the Japan Exchange and Teaching Programme (I originally intended to become more fluent in Japanese to then work in translation); however, I fell in love with teaching, and upon my return stateside I joined and completed a Masters in Education and teaching credential program at UC San Diego. After completing my program and teaching in the elementary classroom for a few years, I found that classroom teaching long term still wasn't the exact fit for me, and I left the education field for a while doing odd jobs while feeling a little lost. On a whim one day, I applied to a student services counseling position while living in San Diego and fell in love with higher education advising.
How I got to the Bay Area happened after a fateful visit to the Bay Area to visit my partner's family, as my partner is a Bay Area native. During said visit, we experienced a sudden and devastating loss, and my partner and I simply never returned to San Diego and remained to support his family. I transitioned to an advising position at San Francisco State University and supported students there for a little over a year. As our family grew and situation changed, I came across the opportunity at Cal to support and advise L&S students, so I threw my application in hoping for the best. The best happened, and here I am!
What advice do you have for L&S students in general?
Try to be open while you're here. It can be comforting and tempting to stick to what you know when you're in such a new and different environment; however, I urge you to keep yourself open to change, to guidance, and to experiences. That change may be in your intended major, career, or what you thought your Cal undergraduate experience would look like. That guidance may come from L&S advisors, professors, and/or your peers. Those experiences may come from activities outside your imagined major/career. So much growth and opportunity is there for you, but oftentimes that means stepping out of your comfort zone and stretching yourself. Growth and learning are often uncomfortable - that's usually a sign true growth is happening! There is no better nor safer time to do that while an undergrad and before you enter the "adult" working world.
About me
I am a HUGE horror fan and a fan of horror in its many different media forms - movies, haunted travel documentaries, manga/anime, novels, podcasts, audiobooks, etc. I particularly love the paranormal subgenre, especially found footage (Blair Witch will always have a special place in my heart!). I even listen to the NoSleep Podcast to be able to fall asleep at night (highly recommend this podcast if you like horror storytelling!). Surprisingly though, I hate haunted houses/mazes, as I can't stand real-life jump scares.
I also am a self-proclaimed foodie, so I love trying new food spots and new cuisines. Moving to the Bay Area has opened up so many new food possibilities, and I'm excited to explore!
