Major: Sociology and Women’s Studies
Year: Senior (graduating this school year!)
Hometown: Bell, California
Relationship Status: Single
Job: Part Time Tutor
Favorite Film Genre: Romantic Dramas
Favorite Student Organization: Mujeres Unidas
For those who know Virginia Estrada, they would describe her as someone who’s always sporting a positive attitude, is up for a fun time, and is one of the driving forces behind Mujeres Unidas. The soon to be graduating senior spends her free time involving herself in various student organizations and bonding with family and friends. I interviewed Virginia outside of Coffee Bean on a windy afternoon to pick her brain about her five years here at UC Riverside.
Virginia is involved with various organizations on campus, including the organizers of the Youth Conference Committee and Mujeres Unidas (MU). This school year, she holds the position of Co-Chair President in MU.
When I interviewed her, she spoke the most about her involvement with Mujeres Unidas throughout her years here at UC Riverside. Virginia attended her first MU meeting her sophomore year, after a bit of encouragement from a friend. She was unsure of how it would be, but felt at ease immediately, saying that the members were “very friendly and welcoming.” Her favorite part about the organization she is now leading, is the closeness it has provided her away from home.
Seeing that she was so involved in the RAZA community, I asked if there were any UCR student wide events that she’d recommended that people attend. She suggested that everyone go to all of the homecoming activities and just exhibit school spirit on a regular basis.
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Being a 5th year, I thought Virginia would be able to provide suggestions of what courses one should make sure to take sometime in your academic future, and which to avoid! Her favorite courses included Sports and Gender (SOC 154), Women, Aids, and the Global Economy (WMST 040), and Women, Politics and Social Movements (WMST 109). When asked about which courses made her want to pull her hair out she laughed and said that geoscience came to mind.
I then asked Virginia my number one question that all upperclassmen have: If there any resources that students on campus should be aware of? Two valuable resources came to her mind. She informed me that the Chicano Student Programs offer free printing to anyone who takes the time to visit their office and there are advisers there for both personal and academic needs. Virginia also recommended visiting the Women’s Resource Center, for anyone who needs to talk to someone. Romanie Arterberry who works in the WRC, as well as the advisor to Mujeres Unidas, has an open door policy. She said that Romanie is available to anyone who walks into her office, regardless of whether you want to talk about relationship troubles or academic difficulties.
After graduation, Virginia plans on moving to Las Vegas where she has a two year job lined up working with children with mental and learning disabilities. While there, she also plans on applying to graduate school and focusing on social work. Her dream job would be something along the lines of a becoming a university advisor or a community event planner.
When I asked if there was any advice that she had for students, she said that her only regret in her five years was not studying abroad, essentially encouraging students to strive for what they want whether that be spending a summer in a foreign country or joining an organization they thinks sounds interesting.