In Their Words: Margarita Vargas

Name: Margarita Vargas

What Scholarship or Award did you receive?
The Walsh Family Scholarship

What year do you expect to graduate? I expect to graduate in 2020.

College:  Porter

Where do you call home? Home is wherever my family and friends go. As long as I am with those that I love, I will always feel at home.

What is your field of focus?  My field of focus is American politics and history.

With all of the choices for college, what made UC Santa Cruz stand out? UC Santa Cruz stood out to me with its beautiful landscape. I love how the campus is nestled within a forest and that the ocean is so close nearby. The unique and beautiful environment definitely influenced my attendance.

What do you hope to do once you graduate from UC Santa Cruz? I hope to either move back to my home city of Sacramento and apply for local political internships or attend law school.

What is one memorable moment that stands out for you as a student here? One memorable moment that stood out to meet is meeting Winona LaDuke. I was speechless at being able to meet a strong, intelligent, and empowering native woman involved in politics and activism. She has truly inspired me to keep fighting for my values and for those who cannot.

What is your one piece of advice for incoming students about life at UC Santa Cruz? It may be hard at first, but you will eventually find yourself and your passion. You just have to keep taking risks and try new things. I felt hopeless and unsure of myself in my freshman year, but now I have a great internship at the American Indian Resource Center with the love and support of my friends and family.

How will this scholarship impact your academic life/research? As someone with a low-income background, this scholarship will help further my ability to pay and invest in my education.