One of my really best students, Vicki Lopez, coming from, being a professional, continue their education and wanted to do research. I introduced, Vicki to the to the research project and what we do in our department, and, she did a great job, an excellent students, hardworking, maintained their grit, tenacity, willing to do more even though kind of they came with a kind of a full plate of things to do. But the ambitions that they have, made me feel like, excited to support Vicki.

I started in a small project, underrepresented or students who really have that grit and be able to overcome obstacles, Vicki was interested. They went to apply and we went ahead with the application process. They get accepted and actually they are doing great. She secured, an internship at UC Berkeley. She secured an internship with the Marriott Lab in Germany wildfire research lab. Presenting in the annual CAL Bridge program. And recently winning, actually a, first place on CSUSB, research, competition. All of these achievements make me so proud, you know, of Vicky and her achievements.

Vicky, actually, won the first place on the CSUSB research competition. And, also being recognized to a and CSU level, STEM Net, scholarship, A result of, like, the hard work, the tenacity, Vicky actually won the, the first place in the CSUSB, research competition. And, now she also won the prestigious award from the CSU STEM Net program. And that kind of tells us more about, like, the grit she has about the resilience and the willing to go even beyond the classroom

What stood for me about Vicky? They looked for an opportunity for research. They approached the director of, student research, and they contacted me, and we met, and we started the work.

Me, Faddi, myself without a certain scholarship. Like my my father served in the army back home in Jordan. And because of that, we were able to get a scholarship to go to school. Without that scholarship, I would not be in school. I would be working with my grandparents in the farm. That's how I grew up. That's my my culture. And even when I was in school, I used to, like, go back from school. Go home, put your backpack and go help my grandparents in the field. Go back in the evening, start doing my homework. So when I look at my life myself and I share this with my students, I share my vulnerability. Like where I came from means a lot to me and why I'm doing what I'm doing
 
Vicky is a good example for that. They came to the lab and now look where they are applying for a PhD. And that's that's a huge milestone.

Family matters, right? What we do when we see them during the commencement, Oh my God, that's the best moment for me, Commencement. I try not to miss any of them because seeing the parents, seeing the family around our students and how much they support

I want to give my students the opportunity to develop more skills that prepare them to be career ready. I was securing an internship for our students inside the university. And one of them got hired full time. That tells us, we need to go beyond the textbook. We need to prepare our students for the industry. Right. So an internship experience, help them build their character, that shows you a lot about who are our students, their resilience, their tenacity, their willingness to do research, support their local community, and, you know, stay connected.

Our students are a rough diamond. You have to scratch that diamond to see them shining.

I have some people in my life who helped me. When I was in PhD. I was about to drop the program and go back home. From being failing, going back home with a failure in to be where I am right now, sitting here talking about my experience with my students definitely is my one of my best moments. Seeing them and graduating. They they hug, they give me. And that graduation means a lot, a lot to me.

I cry because this is the time where I feel like we did something. We are proud of seeing the parents happy.

There is a lot of thunderstorms, that's going to come in that life. So but that didn't stop us from, you know, achieving or dreaming high or achieving high.

We have a lot of resources here on campus at Cal San Bernardino, where you can reach out to get that support. So you are not alone in this.