Student Profile: Fernando Cabrera
BY: KATE FOSTER
When Fernando opened his grades after his first semester at San Jose State University, he was shocked. He was used to the demands of a rigorous course load - he had taken honors and AP classes in high school - but he wasn’t used to seeing this type of success from his efforts. He had taken 15 credits and earned straight A’s!
What made the difference? Fernando credits a few things in particular:
Changing his attitude toward learning. From freshman to senior year of high school, Fernando struggled his way through, and he didn’t see much improvement in his grades or in himself. With the opportunity to start fresh in the new environment of college, he was determined to change his approach. He became more focused and disciplined, concentrating on studying and investing in his future as his main priority.
Building relationships with his professors. Fernando recognized that he would need to take a more active role in his education if he wanted to be successful in his classes. He worked to build relationships with each professor, staying back after class to talk, getting clarification on the subject matter, seeking and incorporating feedback on assignments, in person and through email. This helped him build rapport with his professors - they knew who he was, what kind of student he was, and he felt comfortable to reach out when he needed to.
Meeting regularly with his mentor from the Reach Foundation. Every meeting, his mentor would ask, “How can I help you?” This was not always an easy question for Fernando to answer; it required a new-level of introspection and self-advocacy. Sometimes he asked for advice on how to juggle his job and his studies; other times it was guidance on how to find internships or financial aid opportunities. Regardless of what they discuss each meeting, there’s been a common theme: “She’s been there to encourage me along the way.”
Even with the thoughtful and strategic way he approached his first semester of college, Fernando didn’t expect his efforts to have such dramatic results in such a short amount of time. “Wow, I really did this!” he shared. And he’s determined to maintain that momentum going forward.
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