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Monaliza (ML) Noormohammadi is an ideal example of how a Chancellor’s
Undergraduate Intern should perform and benefit from the unique
experience. ML has been involved with the service-learning department
since her freshman year. She volunteered first at the St. Francis
Soup Kitchen and continued her volunteer work at Live Oak Elementary.
While at Live Oak, ML successfully received two Community Service
Grants from UCSC.
After her time volunteering, ML was offered and accepted the position
as Service-Learning assistant. Through this position, ML worked
closely with the Director of Service-Learning, Abbey Asher. She
assisted with the organization of the service-learning class, Esprit
de corps, and continued to assist the other components of the service-learning
department, Alternative Spring Break and Praxis.
During her junior year, ML assisted Abbey Asher and Community Studies
Professor Andrea Steiner with the collection and analysis of research
data. After this job, ML flew off to Paris where she studied abroad
at the American University of Paris.
While envisioning her plans for her senior year, ML realized that
she wanted nothing else than to become the Chancellor’s Undergraduate
Internship Program’s (CUIP) Praxis Intern. Praxis focuses
on implementing the themes of Colleges Nine and Ten, International
and Global Perspective and Social Justice and Community. While in
Paris, she applied for the position and received it. ML’s
extensive experience with the Service-Learning department, and her
commitment to education and application was what made ML the best
candidate for the internship.
While planning the future course of Praxis, ML wanted to incorporate
new projects while still implementing traditional ones. ML was successful
in implementing three new projects: Santa Cruz AIDS Walk, Earth
Day beach clean-up, and the Water Pasteurization Indicator (WAPI)
project.
By actually implementing these projects successfully, ML realized
the power and influence one person can have, given the right opportunities
and support. She recently stated, “This internship has opened
my eyes to the world, and although the truth is painful, I’ve
learned that there is hope for positive change.”
In addition to the internship, there is a mandatory 2-unit course
required of all CUIP interns. The course is structured to give an
educational component to the internship by exposing interns to different
functions of the university. The course was beneficial. The interns
were given an arena where they could voice their concerns while
expanding their networks.
ML is planning to walk during graduation this spring. Her areas
of study include Sociology and Politics. In the fall of 2007, ML
will be participating in the UCDC program with hopes of getting
an internship in political journalism or public relations. ML’s
experience gained through the CUIP internship is priceless. Her
experience with Praxis will always hold a special place in her heart.
“I will never forget [Praxis],” she said. “This
experience will always be close in memory.”
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