‘Power to the transfer’

UCLA's Center for Community College Partnerships, which strives to support transfer students holistically, has been changing lives since 2001 - and this year is no different.

To highlight its impact, here are snapshots of graduating seniors Shanti Fukasaku, Francisco Reyes, Keo Vutheikun and Natalia Zeledon - four of the CCCP's more than 50 peer advisors this spring who paid their own experience forward with thoughtful compassion and Bruin-to-the-bone verve.

Shanti Fukasaku

Hometown: Manhattan and Tokyo
Major: Political science with a concentration in international relations
Transfer school: Santa Barbara City College

What are some of your favorite UCLA memories?

I loved meeting other fellow transfers - I remember how surprised I was about meeting so many transfers in one class! Outside of the classroom, I remember the late-night vending machine runs for a Diet Coke while studying at Night Powell.

What does it mean to you to be a CCCP peer advisor?

It means helping other trailblazers. As a first-generation college student, it is very difficult to navigate every step of higher education. Being a peer advisor allows me to encourage students from various backgrounds to know that they all belong in higher education; it's not unattainable.

What are your future plans?

I will be taking a few gap years to work. I will be eventually applying to law school as it is my dream to become a lawyer.

What's your best advice to future Bruin transfer students?

Please do not stress yourself out by comparing yourself to others. You belong at UCLA, and you are not here out of luck. It is your perseverance, diligence and drive that brought you here.

Francisco Reyes

Hometown: East Los Angeles
Major: Sociology
Transfer school: Rio Hondo Community College

What are some of your favorite UCLA memories?

Participating in UCLA's Transfer Summer Program gave me the chance to experience UCLA before the fall 2023 quarter officially started. I had a lot of fun getting to know the campus and connecting with other transfer students, which really helped ease my transition and build a sense of community early on. Another highlight was attending True Bruin Welcome Week, especially the block party. It was such a fun way to kick off the school year - being surrounded by music, energy and friends made me feel like I truly belonged at UCLA.

What does it mean to you to be a CCCP peer advisor?

It's an incredibly fulfilling role that allows me to bridge two communities I deeply care about: the one I'm part of now at UCLA, and the community college community that truly shaped my path. I understand firsthand the challenges of navigating higher education as a transfer student. That experience helps me connect with students on a personal level - offering not just guidance, but genuine empathy and encouragement. To me, being a peer advisor is about more than providing information; it's about empowering students to recognize their potential, overcome obstacles and achieve their academic goals. It's also about giving back to the community that supported me and paying forward the opportunities I've been fortunate to receive.

What are your future plans?

I plan to attend graduate school to earn a master's in counseling and become a college counselor. In the future, I hope to coordinate a support program - either with CCCP or at a community college in the Los Angeles area - where I can continue advocating for and guiding students on their educational journeys.

What's your best advice to future Bruin transfer students?

Academics: Plan your courses early, use campus resources and get to know your professors. Building those relationships can open doors to research opportunities and makes it easier to ask for letters of recommendation down the line.

Social life: Make friends. College can get lonely at times, but everything feels more manageable with a strong support system. Join clubs, attend campus events or find a job in a place with a supportive community culture, like UCLA CCCP.

Personal: Prioritize self-care and stay organized. I highly recommend using the Google Calendar app - it's a game changer for managing your time. When things get stressful, take breaks and make time for what brings you joy.

Anything else you'd like to say?

To anyone currently on their community college journey - especially if you didn't get off to the strongest academic start - know that your beginning does not define your future. Growth is always possible. I've been there. I'm living proof that you can turn things around and still reach your goals. Your setbacks don't disqualify you; they prepare you for a powerful comeback. I hope my story reminds you that it's never too late to believe in yourself, stay focused and keep moving forward. You belong in spaces like UCLA - don't let anyone, including yourself, convince you otherwise.

Keo Vutheikun

Hometown: Echo Park/Chinatown, Los Angeles
Major: Education and social transformation
Minor: African American studies
Transfer school: Pasadena City College

What are some of your favorite UCLA memories?

Attending Bruin Bash both years!

What does it mean to you to be a CCCP peer advisor?

As a first-generation, nontraditional student, being a peer advisor means a great deal to me and my communities as I get to work with students to help build their navigational, linguistic and social capital. I was lucky to have been a CCCP scholar at PCC because I honestly don't think I would be here without such a big support system.

What are your future plans?

Right after graduation, I hop on to a plane to Thailand for my University of California Education Abroad Program internship for three months. As a future academic counselor, I will be applying to graduate school when I return (if I ever return).

What's your best advice to future Bruin transfer students?

Please get organized. Use a calendar, and besides class and meetings, plan out your study blocks and free time. Also, use an assignment tracker; you can find a template by googling it. I put my assignments and reading all in one Google sheet, and it has saved me so many times, whether it was staying on top of my assignments or using my course content/research articles for research papers.

Anything else you'd like to say?

College is not only about getting good grades and locking in. Carve out time to spend with friends and attending networking events. It's super cliché, but your network is your net worth.

Natalia Zeledon

Hometown: Del Aire/Hawthorne
Major: English
Minor: Central American Studies
Transfer school: Santa Monica College

What are some of your favorite UCLA memories?

Spending time in either the Franklin D. Murphy Sculpture Garden or the UCLA Mathias Botanical Garden between classes. Both areas of campus are extremely peaceful and allowed me to recenter myself and find solitude during long days. I also fondly remember spending hours studying and bonding with some of my close friends in the YRL [Charles E. Young Research Library] study pods.

What does it mean to you to be a CCCP peer advisor?

Being a CCCP peer advisor is an honor and privilege. I'm very fortunate to say that my time at community college was beautiful and I was heavily supported by those around me, but I'm also very aware that not everyone has this experience. Hence, many students rely on programs such as CCCP for academic support. Being a peer advisor allowed me to work with students to ensure they are supported, feel prepared to transfer and build community. My hope is that all community college students have a positive outlook on their academic journeys - and the work that I contribute to at CCCP is actively working toward this pursuit.

What are your future plans?

I'm currently applying to master's in counseling programs with the intention of giving back to community college students. In the long run, I hope to pursue a Ph.D. to further advocate for the communities I'm connected to.

What's your best advice to future Bruin transfer students?

As overwhelming it can be entering a prestigious institution such as UCLA, don't be afraid to take advantage of where you are. Go to office hours, talk to your professors or even start a conversation with the people sitting near you in class. You never know who may become your new friend or mentor that can change your life for the better.

Anything else you'd like to say?

As I'm drawing near graduation and preparing to cross the stage, I would like to thank the village that brought me here: my parents, my younger sister Sophia, Ms. Patti Del Valle, Ms. Maria Martinez, Dr. Lorretta Huizar, Professor Eleni Hioureas, Eleuteria Hernandez, all of the full-time staff at CCCP and my best friends I met along the way. It is through all of your love, overwhelming support and faith in my capabilities that I have gotten to this point.