-9/04-3/05: Facilitator for AIDS Fundamentals (Bio45): For Fall and Winter (2004-05) I served as a facilitator (discussion leader) for a class entitled AIDS Fundamentals (Bio45). As a facilitator, I led two discussion sections each week for two quarters along with a co-facilitator. The class served as a forum for exploring ideas and sharing reactions to HIV/AIDS-related topics. My responsibilities included leading discussions, facilitating activities, encouraging participation from students, attending weekly meetings with the AIDS Fundamentals Coordinator (Candice Carr-Kelman) to discuss activities, and to write a research paper in the area of AIDS.

This extracurricular activity definitely improved my leadership skills.  Essentially I was in charge of the students and how the class was ran.  By having my activities planned out prior to class and how long they needed to last, this activity taught me organization and time managment. It also allowed me to enhance my communication skills because of the contact with the students.

-9/03- Present: Member of Afrikan Student Union: As a member of the Afrikan Student Union at UC Irvine, I attend weekly meetings that involve active participation about a variety of topics. The weekly meetings also serve as a forum for students to come together and express their views, attitudes, reactions, and feelings about occurrences in the African-American community and the world in general.

This extracurricular activity really teaches me how to communicate well with others.  At times discussions get intense and with this kind of atmosphere, a person runs the risk of offending another if their opinions do not agree.  Through these meetings, I have learned to communicate with others in an objective way.  I have learned to present my arguements in a type of manner that is not forceful or subjective.