Student Experience at College of San Mateo
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Spring Classes Begin
January 16, 2024
Presidents' Day Weekend
February 16-19, 2023
Spring Recess
March 24-30, 2024
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Student Experience
Karina Orocio
Karina Orocio UC Santa Cruz, B.A.

“Attending CSM has been the most rewarding college experience thus far. Coming to CSM opened up a world of opportunities that led me to where I am now and into believing that the anything is possible.“ Karina Orocio praises the counselors in the EOPS program, the staff in the Office of Student Life and her ethnic studies professors for providing her with the resources, support and encouragement that “I needed in order to let fly that eagle that for years patiently awaited inside of me,” says Karina. At CSM, she took advantage of many resources and was extremely active in college life. She became involved in many student clubs and in student government where she had the opportunity to meet many people from different countries, who have different traditions. “This is what made my experience at CSM so special.” Karina was the recipient of the prestigious Karl S. Pister Leadership Opportunity Scholarship awarded to outstanding community college transfer students who transfer to UC Santa Cruz. That eagle has now reached beyond the stars: she earned not one, but two bachelor’s degrees, in Latin American and Latino Studies, from UCSC. Karina’s next step is attending law school with the ultimate goal of becoming an immigration attorney.