Ashley Sere

College 1
Professor Ribeiro (F, 2-5)
07 December 2014
Dear Future First Year Pathways Student,
Hello! My name is Ashley Sere. I am currently majoring in Business Administrations and hoping
to transfer from Pasadena City College (PCC). As a first year student at PCC, we were given an
opportunity to participate in a program designated only for first year students, which provided us campus
resources and priority registration. As a first year pathways student, we were required to take College 1 to
help us analyze our external and internal motivation, critical reading strategies, and sustain our efforts to
succeed our personal goals. One of the books we were required to read as College 1 students was The
Madonnas of Echo Park by Brando Skyhorse. Its important to reflect on what we read, because it can
make us think critically about we do daily and what we are less aware of in this world. For example, in
The Madonnas of Echo Park, a character named Freddy Blas, who was in a prison for a few years, spoke
You dont think about things like sunrises until youve gone without them, those unappreciated everyday
moments you leave behind on the outside to show how often we take advantage of the little things (104).
In another book that we read in class was Switch by Chip and Dan Heath that mentioned methods of
changing ones behavior. The authors mention that we could change our behavior by shaping our
situation, directing our rational side, and/or motivating our emotional side. They wrote If you can do all
three at once, dramatic change can happen even if you dont have lots of power or resources behind you
(Heath). It indicated that we all have the power to pursue our dreams and goals as long as we have the
willingness to direct our choices.
As a first year pathways student, we were also given the opportunity to listen to motivational
speakers that helped us reflect and connect to issues in our other classes through an ePortfolio. Lyn
Goldfarb, an executive producer, director, and co-writer of the documentary The New L.A.. In this
documentary, it portrayed the pivoting change in Los Angeles beginning in 1973. It grasped the issues on

immigration, globalization, de-industrialization, and economic inequality. The speaker mentioned in the
end that despite these challenges and obstacles beginning in 1973, there has been a dramatic improvement
in Los Angeles, economically and socially. However, we should not forget about the events that have
happened in the past. From these events and stories, students wrote their reflections in their ePortfolio.
One excerpt that I enjoyed writing was for a reading response journal for The Madonnas of Echo Park. I
remembered writing about Freddy Blas in Chapter 6 and mentioning how he said that if we want to speak
to people, we should try to speak in the same language to show empathy but also have commitment in
order to get our voice across.
Working in groups can help us to understand situations in a broader and different viewpoint other
than what we think about the situation. It also helps us to connect with each other by sharing our ideas
and resources together, which can benefit all of us to pursuing our goals. In a group project for The
Madonnas of Echo Park, I have learned that it is important to communicate with each other and be
opened to discussions. If we want to become leaders, we must be able to lead others with compassion,
instead of immediately denying their input. From working in groups, it has cleared up my misconception
that students will not get to have as much opportunity to meet new people in classrooms compared to high
school. However, while working in groups, I was able to talk to people about the topic as well as other
issues outside of school.
There are many resources in campus that can be useful in guiding us to succeed in various ways,
academically and individually. For example, the Shatford Library at the Pasadena City College offers a
place to obtain articles, books, and videos needed for classroom assignments. I have used the databases
offered by the library to research on academic peer-reviewed journals for my research papers. Another
resource is the student handbook and planner offered by the Associated Students of PCC. The handbook
not only allows us to write our assignments and reminders, but it also offers a brief directory of student
services, advice, and academic requirements. The resource that I use a lot is an application on the iPhone
called iStudiez Lite. This app offers another option to record your assignments and reminders as well as
alarms and holiday notifications. The last resource that I have used this semester is asking the tutors and

coaches at the PCC Pathways lounge. At the PCC Pathways room, they offer computers, textbooks, and
guidance. I found it very useful during this semester, because they offered computer and printers for first
year pathways when they need to print or research something during their free time. From all of these
resources, opportunities, and lessons I have obtained from College 1 and as a first year pathway students,
it is important to utilize them, as it could help you in your academics and individual growth. Good luck!

Sincerely,
Ashley Sere