In Their Words: Wessede Barrett

Name: Wessede Barrett

Department: Politics/Sociology

College: Stevenson

What Award/ Scholarship did you receive? The Valerie Fuette Scholarship

What year do you expect to graduate? I will be graduating in Spring 2019.

Where do you call home? Oakland, California

With all of the choices for college, what made UC Santa Cruz stand out? UC Santa Cruz was the best choice for me to attend college because as a first generation, low-income student, they rewarded me the most financial aid compared to any other school. Additionally, there were many resources available such as the EOP, ERC, and MSI that would help me navigate through college. UCSC also has a beautiful campus that reminded me of Jamaica, my home country, and I just knew that it was the best school for me.

What is your field of focus? Politics and Sociology

What do you hope to do once you graduate from UC Santa Cruz? I plan on taking a gap year and obtaining an internship before I apply to get my master’s in public health policy. The internship will be in Oakland where I will be learning about local public policy and legislation.

What is one memorable moment that stands out for you as a student here? One of the most memorable moments that stands out to me is all the connections I made with both students and peers on this campus. I think that a vast majority of people on this campus are approachable and compassionate and that is something I will never forget. I would like to give a special thanks to Professor Jenny Reardon and Matthew Sparke that has played a vital role in my success here at UCSC.

What is your one piece of advice for incoming students about life at UC Santa Cruz? The most important advice I would give for incoming students is to never suffer in silence. There are so many resource programs and committed faculty members that are willing to help in times of need. I remember when I struggled to write essays and get through midterms and finals my Freshman year merely because I didn’t seek help. When I realized that so many people were willing to help me succeed and gain a deeper understanding of the curriculum, I took advantage of asking for assistance when I needed it.

How will this scholarship/award impact your academic life/research? As a research assistant and an aspiring policy analyst, this scholarship will impact my research because I will be able to focus more on the Just Biomedicine Project instead of worrying about paying back loans. I can focus on accomplishing my goals and working towards obtaining my master’s. I am very thankful for this scholarship because it has enabled me to have more financial flexibility.