Angelica Sanabria experienced orientation for the incoming class of 2020 at Mills College this past weekend, and is looking forward to growing as a student, a social justice advocate and as an athlete in her time at Mills College. I was able to ask her a few questions about her decision to attend, and what she looks forward to accomplishing in her time here.

Odyssey: Have you decided what you would like to study?

Angelica: I want to double major in music and something that includes sociology and public policy.

O: Are you interested in being involved in any groups or looking forward to learning more about a specific topic?

A: The injustices in the educational system is a topic that resonates with me so I'd be involved with that for sure. I've also been interested in the topics and discussions surrounding countries where US involvement goes sour and countries are left dysfunctional.

O: Did your parents go to college, or are you a first generation student?

A: I am a first generation student. My parents are from El Salvador. I grew up where basically 90 percent of kids are a part of the first generation to go to college, so it doesn't feel that different. When I'm around kids that go to private school and stuff like that, I do feel mediocre and unprepared for college.

Q: What do you take pride in and what motivates you?

A: I stand for Salvadorean people and their hardships, as well as all the other nations exploited by US political involvement. I take pride at work every time I clock in (I'm a lifeguard), because I know I'm keeping everyone safe as well as inspiring people to go for their fitness goals. I'm motivated by talking to my classmates about their work and listening to their understanding and how they are struggling.

Q: What role does competitive swimming play in your life?

A: Swimming has always kept me in line with school. I like being busy, and swimming creates a routine where I can unwind, sleep better and be fit. I have practiced numerous leadership skills while being a part of the swim team. You want to set a good example for the kids, you want to help them out, make sure cool conversations are good conversations, stuff like that. From that, getting a job as a lifeguard at the YMCA I swam at basically became a no brainer. I already knew the place, and my boss was my old coach so that was a great opportunity that opened up for me because of swimming. During my freshman year of high school, I messed up both my ankles and my knees due to running. That really hurt my swimming and I was out of the water for a while. I got depressed, since swimming was a huge part of my identity.

Q: Who inspires you?

A: The most inspiring person I know was my swim coach. The only goals I ever set involved swimming. I know now that I'm more than just my sport and I was able to overcome the illusion of having a stigma. I learned I was stronger than my physical body at our conference championship CIF finals freshman year. I was aching but because it was the last race of the season, I decided why not. It was the 100 fly. I remember everything before and after the race, not so much the race itself. I remember hoping that swimming this wouldn't backfire too much when I try to finally recover. And I remember just going for it. I dropped two seconds from my best time and it should have not gone that well, but it did and it was all due to my effort. My club and high school coaches were very proud and I felt like I beat the odds. So from there I kinda figured "well okay, if swimming isn't your life that's fine, but you can do anything else and you have the potential to kill it at that too."

My Upward Bound program has also inspired me. The people there have been there 100 percent for me since the beginning. Our director, the RA's, the tutors, everyone involved with that program has my sincerest gratitude. I admire all of them for doing what they do. I want to be involved with Upward Bound as one of my careers or even just volunteering. I wouldn't care if I got paid or not; what they do is extremely rewarding. I've gotten letters of recommendation from them, all the things that my parents didn't have answers for. I learned everything I wanted to know, as well as everything I didn't know I needed to know.

Q: What are your passions?

A: I love swimming, I love making music and I've been writing a lot lately. I love talking to people about their goals and I like inspiring people. This ties into my major as I am reading books about immigrants and people from developing/undeveloped nations.

Q: How did you hear about Mills College?

A: I heard about Mills one day when I was in the locker room after morning practice with masters, and I was getting ready for school. I started talking to this young lady and she mentioned that she was a Mills alumna. The way she talked, though, caught my attention the most. All her words were empowered. And that's goals for me so I guess I looked into it from there.

Q: What are some of your goals and dreams?

A: I have a lot and I don't like sharing them because I feel like people don't see them all as attainable. But they are! I have a coworker who is an aqua Aerobics instructor; she owns her own dance studio in the rich part of town, she's a DJ, and she has a degree is some sort of chemistry. She keeps her credentials up to date so she can always go back and do that. She's amazing, I think of her when I think about everything I want to do.

Like I mentioned before, I want to be a part of Upward Bound. I also want to keep working for the Y because they do a lot as an organization and I could get involved with their music classes or programs for underprivileged kids. There are many opportunities to work with them for me besides lifeguarding. I want to produce music and/or get involved with that sort of thing. Like studio type stuff. And if the opportunity comes and if it looks promising, I want to be a part of a band or duo and to at least play local. I want to work as a guidance counselor and/or take part in reforming the Board of Education so then I probably should be a teacher which I want to do.

I know it's a lot, and I probably won't do all of it but you can bet I'm taking every opportunity presented to me to reach those goals without hesitation. This is the most honest I've ever been about my career goals. I don't even know how I can feel so passionately about those jobs. My school was pretty small and when I graduated, I cried as I wrote thank you cards to four of my favorite teachers. I doubt anyone else wrote thank you cards and that just shows how grateful I am to have had them be my teachers, mentors and second mothers.