The 11 graduating members of the undergraduate student government will be leaving UCLA and going their separate ways next year.
Almost all of them have plans to eventually continue their studies in graduate school, though some are taking time off between UCLA and graduate school for other activities such as fellowships and jobs.
Both former President Marwa Kaisey and former External Vice President Tina Park will be participating in the Coro Fellows Program in Public Affairs in Los Angeles.
Kaisey said the fellowship is intended to create leaders in the public sector, and consists of a nine-month rotation through internships with different organizations.
While Kaisey said her ultimate goal is to attend medical school, she would like to combine her interest in medicine and politics into work on health care policy, administration and advocacy.
She added that her work with the Undergraduate Students Association Council helped her realize her passion for public policy.
“USAC has not only shaped my UCLA experience but has also changed my career goals. Previously I wanted to be a practicing physician in neurology, but now I’m combining my medical interests with my newfound interest in policy and advocacy work,” she said.
Park said she ultimately plans to go to law school, but will be taking time to do the Coro fellowship and possibly work with a nonprofit organization.
Her experience on USAC ““ particularly with campaigning, debates and endorsement hearings ““ helped prepare her for Coro’s intensive interview process and gave her important experience, she said.
Kaisey and Park are not the only outgoing councilmembers whose career goals were shaped by their time on USAC.
Former Cultural Affairs Commissioner Marivell Caba said her position on USAC was her ideal job and that she is currently looking for a similar position in Los Angeles.
Outgoing Facilities Commissioner PC Zai, who will be attending the Maxwell School at Syracuse University to pursue her master’s degree in public administration, said she hopes graduate school will enable her to continue to work for the interests of her community.
“We all want to change the world, but we sometimes need more tools to do it. So I’m going for my master’s to get those tools,” she said.
In his fellowship with the Congressional Hispanic Caucus in Washington, D.C., next year, former General Representative Carlos Saucedo said he hopes to continue the advocacy work he did while on USAC.
Saucedo said his experiences as a student leader on campus helped prepare him for this work.
“I’ve been involved in a lot of organizations on campus … and the experience that I have gained has helped me develop my leadership skills, my speaking abilities, and overall as a person,” he said.
Outgoing General Representative Joline Price said as part of her fellowship with the Jewish organization Avodah, she will be doing community advocacy in Chicago, looking at issues of affordable housing and youth homelessness in a specific neighborhood.
Though he is not certain yet exactly where he will be working, outgoing General Representative Samer Araabi said he plans to move to Beirut, Lebanon, and work with a nongovernmental organization there.
Not all graduating USAC members are planning to be as involved in politics and public administration.
Former Academic Affairs Commissioner Nat Schuster said he will be attending medical school at the University of Michigan and is considering a joint medical and business degree.
Entering into the business world will be outgoing Campus Events Commissioner Ravi Dehar, who said he will be working as an online operations coordinator at Google, working with the company’s advertising clients.
Outgoing Community Service Commissioner Farheen Malik said she will be moving to New York to teach while getting a graduate degree in education with a program called New York City Teaching Fellows.