Joining UCLA to Help Distribute Opportunity

At the end of 2021 I listed out my goals for the new year, and one of them was “join a board for something I’m passionate about”. ✅ I’m excited to join the board of UCLA as Advisor to the Dean of Extension. Learning is my greatest passion in life, so this was an interesting choice for a few reasons. I never attended university, in fact I never really thought it was a possibility or was even a discussion growing up. I’ve had a chip on my shoulder because I never got that experience/network/etc. BUT certainly never let it stop me from learning, and ultimately it was the right path for me (not everyone is so lucky).
So, during the pandemic UCLA started a program called UCLAxOPEN that provides free classes to anyone in the world who wants to take them. I loved this immediately. I always have believed talent is evenly distributed, OPPORTUNITY is not. Free/low cost ACCESS to education/knowledge can truly change the world by giving people a more level playing field. A common saying I think about is "what if the cure for cancer is within someone who cannot afford education?" I believe we’re seeing just the very beginning of a shift in education on a major level and I’m excited to be a tiny tiny part of magnifying personal growth opportunities in LA and beyond through this historic organization. #knowledgeispower
So, during the pandemic UCLA started a program called UCLAxOPEN that provides free classes to anyone in the world who wants to take them. I loved this immediately. I always have believed talent is evenly distributed, OPPORTUNITY is not. Free/low cost ACCESS to education/knowledge can truly change the world by giving people a more level playing field. A common saying I think about is "what if the cure for cancer is within someone who cannot afford education?" I believe we’re seeing just the very beginning of a shift in education on a major level and I’m excited to be a tiny tiny part of magnifying personal growth opportunities in LA and beyond through this historic organization. #knowledgeispower