College Admission Essay Tips

By Gabriella Landeros

Your personal statement is really what makes you stand out from everyone else, and in my opinion it was my favorite part of the application process because I had the chance to be creative and show my true self and potential. It should contain a good amount of who you are and what you have done in life that has gotten you to this important milestone. When writing your personal statement ask yourself what qualities you have learned so far and how you can apply that to your future.

According to Topher Jordan, Research Assistant at the University of California, Riverside, “Never sound cliché. Yes, you want to advertise who you are to the people reviewing your application, but chances are they have read your story more than once. Make it as detailed as you can but don’t glam it up, just make it about what you gained from these experiences. Think really hard about what you learned from them.”

“Write about overcoming adversity. Not in the classroom per se, but adversity in your personal lives. Explain what the adversity was and how you overcame it. The deeper the better,”stated Andrew Jesena, a graduate from UCLA.

It is totally fine if you are not sure what you want to major in as well. I thought I wanted to be a Doctor and save lives for a living. Although a great career choice, I changed my mind once I took my first film theory class. I found my love for creative research and reporting on topics I find interesting. I graduated with a major in Media and Cultural Studies with a concentration in Film and Visual Media, and a minor in Spanish (which I declared after my year abroad in Spain).

When writing, think of something that you didn’t already say in your application. I wish I can remember what I wrote back in 2007 when I was applying to college, but I know it included what I learned so far from life experiences, which were my perseverance and positive attitude for school and staying involved. Be honest with yourself while writing, and remember that what you learned and gained from the smallest experiences or hobbies matter.

“I would recommend a high school senior to add a little creativity in their personal statement. They have to keep in mind that every year admission officers read hundreds of thousands of essays and I feel like yours would really stick out if it was something they have never read before,” stated Trixie Aquino, Residential Activities Coordinator at Good Shepherd Volunteers.

Finally, before you submit your application, make sure you have it proofread more than once by a family member, teacher, or friend. Your first draft will never be perfect and there will always be room for improvement both in content and grammar. Getting your personal statement proofread by different people you trust and know you well, also helps tremendously when it comes to finding out more about yourself. You never want to sell yourself short, so by receiving tips and pointers your image is improved while presenting yourself to a university.

Remember, colleges are more concerned with what you have learned, and how you can apply that to your future aspirations. Have fun with it and write from the heart.

For general tips on your college personal statement, check out this video by UCLA Undergraduate Admissions: http://www.admissions.ucla.edu/prospect/perstmt.htm

Read the original article on Latinitas Magazine.

Opportunity for growth and economic development in Los Angeles

By Gabriella Landeros

In order to make Los Angeles flourish and stronger as a city, there has to be more opportunities for creating businesses, jobs, and attracting capital so both communities and investors can work together. The economic turmoil Los Angeles is facing is tough, but with companies such as the Valley Economic Development Center (VEDC), the largest nonprofit small business lender in California, things are improving little by little.

Underserved communities, especially, need the most investment and private capital. Lenders such as the VEDC are doing a great job, and we need more to join the effort in working with communities most hit by economic troubles, such as South LA, Pico-Union, and Pacoima. We need a foundation that will generate long-term growth and job creation. By bringing communities and investors together, investments in cities that have been untouched by many will receive the opportunity they deserve.

Read the original article on http://pleitezforla.tumblr.com/.

An Interview with Emanuel Pleitez, Candidate for LA Mayor

Emanuel Pleitez, a native of the inner city neighborhood of Los Angeles, El Sereno, and raised by a single mother, experienced life in one of the most underrepresented areas of the city. His story resonates with other Angelenos, especially those who come from similar communities. Emanuel’s inspiration and initiative of providing for the community and re-energizing Los Angeles come from the many hardships he knew growing up.

He graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School and was the first member of his family to graduate from college — Stanford University. In the upcoming election, he is one of the few Latinos running for mayor.

With a city that is undergoing a lot of financial turmoil, Emanuel has several ways in which he will improve the finances of Los Angeles, one being pension reform. Pleitez stated:

“We need to address specifically the pension fund liability issue, and it cannot be on the backs of workers. They have fought for certain contracts, and I want to make sure that, as Mayor, we are looking down the line and figuring out what are the things we need to do to ensure that the city can be solvent. We literally are on the brink of bankruptcy, and every year because the pension fund liabilities continue to grow as a proportion of the budget, we end up having to cut other services like parks and recreation, public works, and any other service that is of social safety net for our residents.”

One of the biggest proposals on Emanuel’s agenda is education. As a firm believer that education is an important tool in life, he plans on focusing on children and teens that have dropped out of school and implementing programs to strengthen Los Angeles’ school system for every age group. He plans on bringing several resources to the system, such as early childhood programs, afterschool programs, and parenting classes.

“We need to make sure that community colleges are better aligned with the economy, so that community college classes and trainings are more aligned with the jobs that exist today,” Pleitez said. “We need to make sure that any worker, in any stage of their career has an opportunity to take classes so they can have a better job later.”

Emily Satifka, a fellow on Pleitez for LA, remarked, “Emanuel has managed to unite such a diverse group of opinionated and hard-working individuals all passionate about so many different things. I became involved in this campaign because Emanuel and I had one conversation about mentorship programs and addressing the dropout rate in this city. Emanuel is a produce of this city, a success because of the people who believed in him. He brings a unique perspective to education of not replacing structures already in place but by giving extra support to those students who need it most.”

For many in Los Angeles, transportation and mobility issues are the biggest concern. In regards to expediting Measure R, a measure that was approved on the November 2008 ballot to commit on the improvement of Los Angeles’ public transportation system, Pleitez said:

“We need to find as many financing methods for infrastructure projects, we also need to open up the markets for private sector solutions to enter the mobility solutions market One of the funding methods to improve the city’s transportation issues would include, creating public-private partnerships with companies that are willing to invest in infrastructure services.

Some of Emanuel’s non-profit experiences include Latinos on the Fast Track (LOFT) Institute and the Latino Legacy Weekend, which works with Latino leaders of today. Emanuel’s past work also includes working for Los Angeles’ current mayor, Antonio Villaraigosa, by being his aide and personal assistant. After working at Goldman Sachs and being a member of the Obama-Biden US Treasury Review team, he ran for California’s 32^nd Congressional District Election in 2009 with a grassroots driven campaign.

After running for Congress, Emanuel worked on the president’s Economic Recovery Advisory Board (PERAB) and later McKinsey & Company. He also served as the Board of Directors Chair for the Hispanic Heritage Foundation and the Salvadoran American Leadership and Education Fund (SALEF). He is also the founder and executive producer of INSPIRA, an organization that tells inspirational stories of Latinos.

Although Emanuel has never held a political position, he has experience with private and public sector jobs, a quality that is found useful by many. “I’m someone that’s unafraid of tackling the most difficult issues head on,” stated Pleitez.

“I sincerely believe that it is time that we (<35) start electing our ‘peers’ to achieve the change that we want to see in our cities,” said John Hill, a fellow on Pleitez’s campaign. “We are adults now and there is no reason to continue to elect our ‘political parents’, especially if they are going to rest on their laurels and continue to advocate for the same old solutions that have failed to work. What we need in Los Angeles and this country is innovation, creativity, and energy. Emanuel has what LA needs, which is why I am drawn to him. He represents something great: a positive change in the direction of politics.”

In keeping with the effort and spirit of engaging and energizing communities at a personal level, Emanuel’s mayoral campaign is also a grassroots driven campaign. Emanuel and his staff engage with voters to make sure their voices are heard. Team Pleitez covers every area of Los Angeles that are usually ignored or in the shadows, some which include Pico Union, South Central, and cities in the Valley such as Pacoima. Fellows and volunteers on Team Pleitez communicate on a daily basis with voters to hear what they would like to see improved in their community.

“This is my first campaign, but I can honestly say that it has been time consuming, rigorous and most importantly, rewarding. It is rare to meet a person as driven and compassionate as Emanuel. He is focused entirely on the progress of the City of Los Angeles and the development (personal and professional) of his staff,” added Hill.

Read the original article on the Independent Voter Network.

Presidential battle for the female vote - Los Angeles fights to end bullying - Court in N.Y. strikes down key factor of Defense of Marriage Act

By Gabriella Landeros

Presidential battle for the female vote

On Wednesday, President Obama and Mitt Romney battled to win the female vote, which essentially could be the determining factor for this race. With Mitt Romney proposing to end federal funding for Planned Parenthood and Obama continuing to support funding, there is no doubt that this can split the female vote. For Obama, women have played a key factor for his race to reelection. According to Christi Parsons and Seema Mehta from the L.A. Times, “Obama has been strongest among younger and single women, while Romney has been most popular among older and married women.” To read more, visit: Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles fights to end bullying

The Los Angeles Unified School District and the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center are in a partnership to end bullying. For the past two years, the district and center have been working together to find a solution for this unfortunate act, common among youth. Together, they have created Suicide Prevention Intervention Now (SPIN), which is a program to prevent the chance of suicide, a possible outcome when one is bullied. They are accomplishing this goal through training sessions for parents and students, administrators, and teachers. To read more, visit Los Angeles Times

Court in N.Y strikes down key factor of Defense of Marriage Act

The Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) doesn’t give same-sex couples the same rights as heterosexual couples, causing much controversy amongst the LGBT community. According to David G. Savage from the L.A. Times, a federal appeals court in New York became the first to rule that gays and lesbians deserve “special protection from discrimination under the Constitution.” This Manhattan court joins other courts throughout California and New England in a stand that same-sex couples deserve the same treatment, just as everyone else. To read more, visit: Los Angeles Times

News roundup for http://pleitezforla.tumblr.com/.

Gang violence in Central America impacting migrant youth - Immigration not the biggest concern for Latinos - Barack Obama brings it back in the second presidential debate

By Gabriella Landeros

Gang violence in Central America impacting migrant youth

Because of the gang violence in Central America, there has been a larger amount of unaccompanied minors crossing the Mexican border in search for a better life. According to Cindy Chang from the Los Angeles Times, “Most of the growth came from three countries: El Salvador, with 68% more unaccompanied minors; Guatemala, with 72% more; and Honduras, with the number more than doubling, from 1,201 to 2,477.” To read more, visit: Los Angeles Times

Immigration not the biggest concern for Latinos

Although illegal immigration is a hot topic for many Latinos, amidst this election cycle, there are more pressing issues that are of concern, such as education, jobs, the economy, and healthcare. This is not to say that immigration reform does not take a toll on Latinos, but there are other pressing issues hitting hard on the nation as well. “Though most Latinos do not have a direct stake in immigration reform, the issue is still a tone-setter for many, and actions or words that are perceived as unduly harsh toward immigrants without papers often resonate with Latinos,” stated Hector Becerra from the Los Angeles Times. To read more, visit: Los Angeles Times

Barack Obama brings it back in the second presidential debate

Polls have shown that Obama won the debate last night, and according to David Horsey from the Los Angeles Times, he delivered “the best debate performance of his political career.” Obama answered each issue with confidence, and was not afraid to attack Romney with a sting. To read more, visit: Los Angeles Times

News roundup for  http://pleitezforla.tumblr.com/.

City ID card for immigrants - Community college students forced to commute to different campuses - Prop. 30 inspiring voter registration among students

By Gabriella Landeros

City ID card for immigrants

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa is proposing a plan for a city ID card to help accommodate undocumented immigrants who reside in Los Angeles. The card would not only be a photo identification card, but it will also double as an ATM card. Similar methods of accommodation have also been initiated by other city officials, such as Councilman Richard Alarcon who introduced a library card that can also serve as a debit card. Los Angeles also joins other cities, such as San Francisco and Oakland, who have already implemented immigration cards for anyone with proof of residency. To read more, visit Los Angeles Times

Community college students forced to commute to different campuses

Because of severe budget cuts, the amount of courses offered at community colleges has been limited. Students are forced to travel long commutes by bus, car, and train because classes are not offered at one single location. Due to budget cuts, some college campuses have taken off winter and summer sessions. Community colleges are feeling a harsh effect because they not only have to worry about budget cuts, but also have to worry about their students getting into the classes needed to transfer. To read more, visit Los Angeles Times

Prop. 30 inspiring voter registration among students

Governor Jerry Brown’s tax hike measure (Prop. 30), which primarily raises state sales taxes and income for ones earning a significant amount of money, is being used as an inspiration for student voter registration. According to Larry Gordon from the Los Angeles Times, “It’s being touted as the only way to avoid tuition increase this year at California’s public universities, and if it passes, Cal State students could get a tuition rebate.” To read more, please visit Los Angeles Times

News roundup for http://pleitezforla.tumblr.com/.

Nuevo programa de deportación

By Gabriella Landeros

Según el artículo, Illegal immigrant deportation flights to Mexico city scaled back por Richard Marosi en el diario Los Angeles Times, los Estados Unidos creo un nuevo programa que deportará inmigrantes indocumentados por avión a la Ciudad de México durante los siguientes dos meses.

Según Alejandro Poire, Secretario del Interior de México, hacerlo en esta manera mejorará la seguridad fronteriza porque ayudará a inmigrantes a regresar a sus comunidades por autobuses desde la capital. También ayuda para evitar que grupos delictivos en que se aprovechan de los deportados al sur de la frontera.

“Una vez en territorio nacional, se les dará comida y transporte terrestre a sus comunidades de origen o de residencia y en México,” dijo el Ministerio y el Instituto Nacional de Migración.

Hay una gran cantidad de inmigrantes, pero si los Estados Unidos quiere hacer algo para realmente afectar y reducir la cantidad de inmigrantes indocumentados, lo tiene que hacer en una manera segura y sin estrés para ambos participantes. No sabemos las implicaciones de esta solución, y a este punto solo podemos esperar y confiar en que el programa será un gran beneficio para los indocumentados quienes se encuentran en el proceso de deportación.

Para leer más, visite Los Angeles Times.

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