FACES OF LEARNING An arts-based research initiative designed to elicit student voices to provide insights into learning experiences at San JosĂŠ State University.
sjsu.edu/education/faces
Preface What does learning look like among today's college students? The Faces of Learning project at San José State University sought to shine a light on this question by engaging current undergraduate students in a year-long project to learn about, reflect upon, and amplify the voices and experiences of their peers through the use of interviews and photography. During the Fall 2019 semester, a team of six undergraduate students and one graduate student from across SJSU were selected to participate as leaders in this project as co-researchers and a project coordinator, respectively. Through the support of faculty and staff in the SJSU Lurie College of Education, this student team became prepared to better understand the impact of their peers' voices through art. Throughout the remainder of the academic year, co-researchers conducted extensive interviews under the guidance of their project coordinator and curated the gallery of images and stories that follow.
Co-researchers completing their training in Fall 2019.
Faces of Learning is a project of the SJSU Lurie College of Education’s Future of Learning Initiative. FLI@SJSU brings together educators, students, researchers, policy makers and community leaders to reimagine learning and create more equitable and inclusive educational systems from early childhood through adulthood. Student voice is central to the work of FLI@SJSU. Listening to and learning from our students, especially our students who have historically been marginalized, is essential if we are to work toward a more equitable and inclusive future of learning. The stories and photos represented in this collection, demonstrate the importance and power of student voice. Learn more at sjsu.edu/education/fli
Process After completing extensive training around utlizing narrative and photography for research, our co-reseachers set out to learn from a wide range of students and voices across campus. "The whole interview process is really cool because I love to learn about people's stories," said Co-Researcher Isabel Rangel Hernandez. "Now, the challenge is how to translate that into research, which is something that I'm inspired to learn about." During the conversations with their participants, co-researchers asked questions like: Have your learning experiences at SJSU been what you expected? What advice would you give about learning at SJSU? What has been your most powerful learning experience at SJSU? These conversations aimed to gain a deeper understanding of the participants and establish a greater sense of connection and belonging for the participants. "A lot of times, students just commute to campus and don't really find a sense of community," said Co-Researcher Edith Urbano. "After this project, I hope students feel that they are a part of this school beyond taking classes." While completing the interviews, co-researchers continuously reflected upon what they learned and identified significant quotes to accompany the photos they took. "This has been a beautiful experience but it's also been thought-provoking and emotional," said Co-Researcher Alberto Camacho. "It takes a toll because sometimes you resonate with them or they bring something to the table that you haven't dealt with." As you, the reader, learn about each of the following student stories, consider: What observations or themes do you notice? How do these students’ experiences align with your own learning experience? How do these stories interesect with our university’s priorities? What questions do these photos and quotes raise about learning at SJSU?
Meet the Team Eliana Villafuerte Undergraduate Co-Researcher Major: Linguistics Minor: Chicana and Chicano Studies Fun Fact: I love doing my makeup and experimenting with different color eye shadows.
Octavio Martinez Undergraduate Co-Researcher Major: Design Studies Minor: Human Systems Integration Fun Fact: A fun hobby that I like to partake in is Muay-Thai.
Edith Urbano Undergraduate Co-Researcher Major: Child and Adolescent Development Minor: Sociology of Education Fun Fact: I am left-handed and I love going thrifting with my friends.
Meet the Team Isabel Rangel Hernandez Undergraduate Co-Researcher Major: Child and Adolescent Development, Preparation for Teaching Fun Fact: I’ve been dancing Folklorico for over 10 years.
Alberto Camacho Undergraduate Co-Researcher Major: English Minor: Chicana and Chicano Studies Fun Fact: I dance Folkloriko with Grupo Luna y Sol de San José and I love to write!
Dalia Hernandez Undergraduate Co-Researcher Major: Behavioral Science Minor: Applied Computing for Behavioral and Social Sciences Fun Fact: I visited two new states last year which were Tennessee and New York.
Meet the Team Briettny Curtner Graduate Project Coordinator Major: MA in Education, Counseling, and Student Personnel Fun Fact: I have been to 13 states!
Acknowledgements Rebeca Burciaga, PhD Melinda Chiment, PhD Brian Cheung Dooley Lilly Gangai
Heather Lattimer, EdD Maria Mathioudakis Janene Perez
“Grades do not define who you are.�
"College is a different experience when not coming straight from high school. After transferring from De Anza College, I was unsure of my path here at SJSU but I knew I wanted to dabble in behavioral sciences and technology. Life stressors often plague the focus of my studies and I have picked myself up many times. Now, I am graduating because my circumstances will not define me."
“Per aspera ad astra. A travĂŠs de las dificultades a las estrella. Gracias a mi comunidad y familia."
"Through all the difficulties- to the stars. Thanks to my community and my family. There's a difference between your family at home, where you feel supported, but there's a different family when you're at SJSU. I feel like there's a reason why I became very successful at SJSU and that's because I had the support from the community, from my professors, and my friends. If I didn't have the support, I would feel like I would have dropped out a long time ago, especially when I wasn't sure if I wanted to become an Aerospace Engineer."
How Do I Connect?
"To be honest, I don't really feel like I'm part of the community. I just go to school, get my work done and I leave. I don't really participate in anything extracurricular. I tried to involve myself before several times, but every time I feel like I was out of place. I was trying to fit in all these different clubs and organizations, but I always feel like‌ I either can't contribute, or I can’t be part of the clique or something. Maybe it's because I'm older or I spent the last decade in the military. I just don't follow all that hype these days. We shifted to the digital world too heavy and too fast. It wasn't like that even a decade ago."
Learning Doesn’t Come Easily
"It’s not easy to learn. You have to put the effort to actually grasp what you’re being taught. It’s easy for someone to just sit in class and listen to the lecture, but you’re not really learning. You need to put in effort - there is no way things can get done without it. So you need to sit down and do the work needed."
Criminal Justice Reform Is Now
"I have seen firsthand the injustice of the criminal justice system. I have used that experience to try and help those that are continuing to be treated unfairly by the system. SJSU has provided me the resources to explore different aspects of the legal system. I have taken full advantage of courses offered to achieve a degree in Justice Studies because I aspire to become an attorney to serve others."
It Is Never Too Late To Ask
"I had to take it upon myself to seek help in the beginning rather than at the very end when it feels like you're drowning. I struggled academically for a while as I learned to be independent and self-sufficient. It was that experience that motivated me to become a better version of myself and obtain higher grades this semester."
"There's no right way of finishing your education anymore."
"There's a lot of areas in which colleges need help. I need help as a single parent. That isn't their problem - that I'm a single parent - but it is their problem once they accept me. It's untraditional - I left and came back. I have a child and there's other people that are older than us that are here finishing their bachelor's. It’s not 1920, it's 2020."
“No tienes miedo porque la vid te da sorpresas buenas y malas."
"You shouldn’t have fear, life has good and bad surprises. The professors here are always pushing me and grading me. I had some hard graders but they told the truth and told me how it was. Based on that I kept on learning - I was evolving and becoming wiser."
Everything Happen For A Reason
"No matter how hard it may be, there is something at the end. No matter how hard you study or stress out about something, it will have an outcome. That can either be a good or bad end, but that ending is what it's meant to be."
Succeeding Through Adversity
"The educational system was not designed for people of color like me to succeed in this existing society and, therefore, we begin to doubt our potential. There have been moments where I question my capabilities at this institution and feel out of place. However, I try to remember that I want to make something known of myself and strive to keep the stigma of where I come from far from negative."
New Horizons
"The entire title of the major is Hospitality, Tourism, and Event Management. I was more focused on the tourism aspect and I wanted to look more into eco-tourism, but then the major classes that I took were not that interesting and I found [myself] reading through chapters that didn’t catch my attention. Even looking at different jobs within the industry, I still wasn’t interested. I went on a retreat that was provided by El Centro here on campus. It was the Student Leadership Retreat and we had some deep conversations and workshops... and I felt like I needed to have a change in my life. I really needed to ask myself, 'what it is that I want to do?' because I understood that I wasn’t happy where I was."
"You're not going to get it right every time."
"One of my biggest things I learned was to be okay with failing. I always would put so much pressure on myself to graduate this semester, Spring 2020. But I learned it’s okay, I’m going to be okay. You just have to keep going. Ask for help, go to tutoring, office hours, or ask your peers. While no one is going to help you all the time, you have to at least use the resources available to you. They’re there for a reason."
Penitentiary
"It’s been interesting. With all my English classes, [professors] expect the same thing of you. They expect you to do all the work. If they tell you to read this book by the next class, you’re like 'okay well my other class just told me to read this too'. I’m like, 'okay, so I have to read three novels before Tuesday'."
“Let what you love lead your passion.�
"I think my major classes - graphic design - are very helpful for me to get more interested in my major and what I want to do in the future. The thing I like about SJSU is that my classes are small, 25-30 people usually. I feel really comfortable getting to know my friends, classmates, and professors. I get to talk to them, I know them, and they know me."
Light At The End Of The Tunnel
"Although it's stressful, don't let it overwhelm you. I've had to learn my own way since I was the first to got to college. It can be hard, but it can be done. No matter how hard it may be there’s always an outcome. There is always something at the end. Studying or whatever may be happening, there’s going to be an answer. Positive or negative, it's what it's meant to be."
“In my home (library) there are open seats for different people.”
"Luckily, in my major all my instructors are pretty chill, pretty nice, and they are helpful. We see them all the time, we can ask them anything. They always try to help us. I have asked for recommendation letters [and they say] ‘You don’t have to thank me. It’s my job. I'm glad to help.'"
Persevering Through Life's Challenges
"Being a first-generation student has come with a lot of pressure. I came to college not knowing what to expect and unaware of the resources I could have utilized. College is a time where you transition from not knowing a lot to just everything being thrown at you like adulthood and pressure of society - especially because you don't know what you're going to do."
Stress Is Inevitable
"Stress will come but breaks are absolutely needed to survive. It’s not bad to have a day off."
Your Past Can Prepare You For The Future
"My experiences as a translator, class president, and activist have encouraged me to pursue political science as my major. I have lived most of my life in the U.S. and will always ensure to include my Mexican culture in my education, especially now more than ever. The political climate of today has made me passionate about human rights; thus, making sure my culture is known."
Pleasant Elsewhere
"Since I came here I decided to be more active in student stuff and school. I joined the veteran student organization here on campus. All my free time outside of class is devoted to that. However, I remember back to my first semester I tried looking for clubs. I thought yoga is kind of cool. I put it into the schools club search thing and nothing shows up. I scroll through the list: SJSU yoga club. I tried contacting them and I get a dead email contact."
Taking Risks Lands New Opportunities
"I was aware that attending university six hours away from home would be a challenge because I did not know what to expect. However, I took the risk and sought out the solutions to any hardship I faced by seeking out the aid necessary. Now, I do not hesitate to ask for help when I may need it."
Above And Beyond Grades
"People say that grades in college are everything. That's not true. Just because you got to do it, [grades] don't measure what you actually know. The workforce is changing. They care more of you as a whole balanced person, not as your grades. Your grades don't reflect your personality."
Conformity In Diversity
"My journey has not always been rainbows and sunshine. English is my second language and learning it in high school was challenging. Once in college, however, I overcame my doubt and am more than ready to embrace being bilingual throughout my career. I am a Spanish speaker and will help people to communicate with others that do not know the language."
Cultural Connection For Liberation
"I think all students should be involved in at least one organization (org) or a club… because that’s where you really put yourself out there and make friends and become more comfortable with the campus. Those orgs offer a lot of peer connections that you wouldn’t get in class, because I know that a lot of students go to class, take notes, and leave. As opposed to the orgs you go, you’re forced to talk to people, forced to make new friends. You get a lot out of it with experiences and workshops that they offer. I think it’s great and essential for campus life."
Creating Opportunities Through Connections
"With opportunity, that opportunity doesn’t come knocking. You have to gain the opportunity and I think that’s the whole point about SJSU. It's to gain the opportunity to do something with yourself - to learn. You have to be studious in order to gain knowledge. By connecting with my professors, mentors, and peers, they were able to give me information about things I didn’t know - the ins and outs of the business world. There are many people willing to help, the problem is they don’t know you. So meet everyone and greet everyone and try to have a connection with them."
Stay Mindful Through Diversity
"We all go through similar experiences; however, we come from multiple backgrounds and different cultures. Through these multifaceted upbringings, individuals experience these things in different forms. That doesn't make them invalid. It just means that we need to look at how much we have to adapt it in order to ease the transition into our community."
Unity For Prosperity
"I mean right now, I don’t feel like I’m getting much help to reach that goal. Right now, it’s been like 'here’s the basics so you can get that goal' but it’s not like 'here’s the resources to reach the goal'. I’m aware of some of them… but it’s hard to approach them because I don’t know how to ask for help."
Community Change For The Better
"I have struggled to find advising that is consistent. I entered SJSU straight from high school where advising happened often. I believe advising can be improved by making sure connections with mentors and advisors are constant. By doing so, college will be a successful experience."
Preparing For The Career
"My experience at SJSU was very fulfilling. I expanded my knowledge as well as my social circle. The diverse student body allowed me to meet many amazing people from around the world and share stories. The dedicated faculty taught me many valuable skills that I will carry on with me throughout my professional career. They also expanded my academic knowledge by enriching my intellect. I am confident stepping into the professional world, thanks to the holistic knowledge SJSU has given me."
“I completed another day at San Jose State.”
"I'm less involved [at SJSU] because I do have to commute and I have a job in San Mateo. Currently my 100w professor, he’s very attentive. He’s not what I thought a professor would be like - very serious. He said, ‘Just so you know spelling is not my strongest suit.’ I was like, 'me too.' The writing center, which I think could help, because journalism does require to write and stuff, but it’s either that or work. I have learned that I need to get a planner, and that the worst thing someone can tell me is no."
Sacrifices
"You can’t have it all, so you’ve got to learn to sacrifice things and better balance what you need to prioritize in the long run."
Lessons Learned From SJSU
"Personally, there are three things I’ll take away from my time at SJSU. Making a confident impression in stressful situations, networking with as many people as possible, and appreciating the professors here no matter how they present themselves. When you display confidence you inspire others no matter how nervous you feel. Networking with everyone you meet allows you to build trustworthy connections into your future career. And appreciating all kinds of teachers here for what they bring to the table, allows you to understand how life brings a variety of people that will inevitably test your patience and skills."
Resilence Among The Adversity
"It broke the barriers of academia. We're all human, friends. . . life happens. Life doesn't have to get in the way of you getting an education."
Needed Representation
"Not a lot of people in the health department want to do research on Latinos, why is that? Are we not worthy to be studied or something? Or is it something else? After seeing ProfÊ Gomez in the Health department, she pulled me out of the sea from drowning. She embodies a lot of things. She is the epitome of me just realizing, 'Yes! If she can do It, I can do too.' We have a representative in the health department for sure, she's not only representing Latina, but also Latino. IT’S ABOUT TIME."
"Me time is needed, much needed."
"I'm hard on myself for sure and that's how I got to where I am today. Because, I mean, if you don't push yourself, who else is going to push you? Nobody. If you don't have expectations for yourself, then how are you going to obtain anything or grow as a person?"
SJSU Faces of Learning sjsu.edu/education/faces
Connie L. Lurie College of Education One Washington Square San JosĂŠ, CA 95192-0071
Sweeney Hall 103 | sjsu.edu/education | 408-924-3600 | luriecollege@sjsu.edu