Emily Gamboa

My name is Emily Gamboa (she/her/hers) and I am one of those people you hear before you see. It’s undeniable that I am as loud as I am spirited, and I love talking to anyone around campus. Often times, I even get so caught up in chatting that I have to race to snag a seat in class just before it begins. Yet, my gift of gab genuinely lends itself to Sonoma State University in many different ways. I am a self- proclaimed student leader having been a Summer Orientation Leader for the summer of 2018 and a Peer Mentor for the 2017-2018 and 2018-2019 academic years. I am an english major and dream of becoming a high school teacher one day, so working as a Summer OL and a Peer Mentor has validated that dream as I work with the same age range and love it. But, more on that later.

I have recently declared a minor in film studies since I am an absolute film nerd. Every year, I watch the films nominated for the Oscars and predict which flicks will win in each category, and I have consistently been correct in my guesses! I also love to write and have written countless short stories in the Notes app of my phone whenever I feel inspired. I am a huge fan of the Myers-Briggs personality type and wear my ENFP profile on my sleeve as I love to learn about what I amount to in the grand scheme.

Like I’ve mentioned previously, I am a returner Peer Mentor having been fully acquainted in the Center for Transfer and Transition Programs in which Peer Mentor is housed. As a Peer Mentor, I sit in on a first-year only class and experience their transition to Sonoma State alongside them. There are two parts to this title, “Peer,” which I exercise by having routine one-on-ones with the students to know them personally as a fellow college student. Then, most integral to the program, “Mentor” where I’m responsible for guiding lessons on vital transitional topics such as alcohol awareness or the power of consent, even the importance of time management! This platform has helped me in more ways than one. I now have abolished any lingering fear of public speaking I had, and I’ve redefined my sense of empathy. This job is especially powerful because I know exactly what these first-years are going through with roommate problems or homesickness as I was just there myself. Reassuring them that these issues simmer down and college becomes what you make of it is so gratifying since I recall how much I needed that when I was in their shoes.

The biggest challenge I’ve faced at Sonoma was struggling to find my place on this little campus. I always knew the best way to acclimate was to get involved to ground myself to this campus. I tapped into that with student leadership, and now my goal is to help others do the same.