P4s Weekly Alumni/Current Member Spotlight for July 28-August 3, 2014: This week is a current member double feature! Please welcome Joanne Chua and Justin Lasola! Joanne Chua Hello everyone! Kamusta na lahat? Joanne here—I’m a rising 3rd year majoring in Political Science and minoring in Public Policy. I am the Co-Director of External Affairs (Law) along with @Justin Lasola! I’m not sure how to really start this off, but bear (ʕ´•ᴥ•`ʔ) with me. I joined P4 in the second semester of my freshman year (shout out to a specific person for recommending me, you know who you are), and truth be told, I thought it would be an awkward transition and I’d be that new, isolated “newbie” trying to befriend all the returnees. But, unsurprisingly, they welcomed me with open arms and some of the closest mentors and friends I have now in Berkeley were met through P4! And without P4, I probably wouldn’t be here in Washington, D.C. right now. Right now, I am interning for the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) through both Cal-in-the-Capital, and as a fellow in the International Leadership Foundation. I’m currently working on the White House-led African Leaders’ Summit along with research on gender and food security issues. Honestly, without the encouraging support, advice and resume/interview/elevator-pitch help that P4 gave me, I wouldn’t have been confident enough to even apply to be here. And it’s not an exaggeration either. In a vast and competitive campus like Berkeley, P4 is a small enough group to give you the attention you need, while still retaining a motivating atmosphere sans all the cutthroat vibe Cal is known for. Without P4, I wouldn’t have had the chance to go visit SF’s Public Defender Office and sit in a trial, to visit Stanford’s law school and comfort our brief betrayal to Cal with Jollibee’s chicken-joy (sorry!), to volunteer for Books for the Barrios and in an immigration clinic, or be given the opportunity to talk to lawyers, business/political leaders, and people from all sorts of field—all with a like-minded thirst and passion. Granted, one can say I could have done all this without P4–but honestly, that would’ve probably been more difficult. P4 is a gateway of opportunities if you just put yourself out there. If it’s one thing I learned, don’t take for granted your ability and potential to achieve–don’t underestimate yourself. There are times in Cal where you will feel overwhelmed and maybe undeserving of being here, but don’t give in to it. YOU belong here, even if you have to carve a niche out for yourself. One mantra that I try to remember is, “Experience is what you get, when you didn’t get what you wanted.” (Randy Pausch) Remember, you’re not alone–surround yourself with a support network; P4 and the Pilipin@ community was my pillar for me. Anyway, I meant to be short and brief so I’ll end it here. P4, P4, P4, fo’ sho! Justin Lasola What’s going on internet people?! My name is Justin Lasola, I am a rising third year economics major, an intern at Interscope Geffen A&M Records, and Co-Director of External Affairs (Business) with Joanne Chua! She reminded me I have to write this and that, my friends, is why co-directors are important. Last summer, I got Tele-Bleeped out of literally every class I planned on taking that coming fall and decided to take Filipino 1A. Long story short, some good friends I made in Filipino 1A recommended that I join P4 that coming spring and I instantly loved it. In the short time I have spent with P4, I have found an organization where I could get the one-on-one time with both my peers and professionals to really develop, network, and build long-lasting connections. Honestly, my wallet has more business cards in it than money right now (and boba stamp cards, but that is neither here nor there). Furthermore, I was not just meeting people for the sake of meeting people. Mr. Partner of the Year, B-Wong, really took the time to hear out what I wanted out of my time with P4 and recommended events for me to attend such as the Pilipin@s in Entertainment panel last spring. Without P4 guiding me through the endless barrage of career panels, fair, and recruiters, I would have been completely lost. Lastly, my piece of advice to anyone reading this is that a closed mouth doesn’t get fed. You can have the wildest ambitions and all the potential in the world to see them come true but no one would ever know that if you don’t put yourself out there and let people know what goes on inside your head. For me, both Cal and Interscope are so fast-paced and the renown of the two names puts on so much pressure that I almost want to keep my mouth shut. But don’t let that intimidate you, let it drive you. Alright, I want to end here because there are two of these today so I hope everyone is having a great summer! See y’all in the fall and Go Bears!
Posted on: Mon, 28 Jul 2014 15:19:25 +0000
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