I had the pleasure to interview Ruth Ruiz who grew up in San Diego. She attended High Tech High and joined Barrio Logan College Institute (BLCI) in third grade. Ruth is currently attending University of Redlands and just finished her first year of college. In this interview, Ruth shared about her hometown and what it was like to grow up in San Diego. Ruth highlighted her experiences at BLCI and how this community partner has equipped her with tools to be successful. In the interview, it was acknowledged that Ruth is a first-generation college student. The interviewee went in depth about the challenges and lessons she has learned about being a first gen. We touched upon how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted her and her family along with frustrations and challenges. She also shared her experiences and advice about living on campus during the pandemic. She also talked about her passion and the importance to give back to her community. The interview was conducted via Zoom to practice social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The interview was conducted by Tina Dang, a third year Cognitive Behavioral Neuroscience major and Ethnic Studies minor at UCSD who is interested in learning more about the San Diego community.