Ryan Champ - Black UCI Alumni Oral History Project скачать в хорошем качестве

Ryan Champ - Black UCI Alumni Oral History Project

"I'm a Senior Software Developer/Architect, a husband, and a father to a beautiful 6 year old girl. I'm also a proud graduate of the class of 2003, and my UCI story was a microcosm of how I live my life, in that I try to get the most of it that I can. I worked hard, I played hard, and overall, I learned a lot about myself and the world around me. I pledged Alpha Phi Alpha in the Spring of 2000 and eventually became the stepmaster. We even performed at a UCI basketball halftime show! I served as the chapter webmaster for NSBE and created the chapter's first website. The next year I ran for president, and won! NSBE really helped me cut my teeth as a leader, and it also led me to good job experience via internships. I served as president for 2 years, and even though it was stressful at times I loved it. I got my first taste of cross country travel through NSBE. We were even on the Price is Right! I played in the first intramural basketball championship in the Bren Events center (that I'm aware of), and scored the last 5 points of the game to give us a come from behind win. I thought the world was ending the morning of 9/11. I remember busting into my roommates bedroom screaming ""WE ARE UNDER ATTACK"" I called 2 people, my mom and my line brother to tell them the same thing. I remember going to the grocery store with my roommates with a plan to buy up all of the water and canned goods that day. I think we were all hyped up because the night before we were all up late about how one day some foreign power(s) might gang up on the US if they don't change their foreign policy. It was a crazy time, just days before my 21st birthday. I remember Black Graduation. My family showed up with custom made shirts with my picture on it. Even though we were supposed to come out in alphabetical order, I convinced them to let me come out last so me and by frat could ""Pistol Grip"" across the stage. Nowadays I don't sit back and reminisce on these things that often, but when I think about being a first generation college student from South Central LA (who was originally scared about going to college in Orange County and feeling like I would ""belong""), I just feel really blessed to have experienced these moments. I'll always cherish my college days. This verse is from the Alpha Phi Alpha hymn, it applies to my frat but also very much applies to how I feel about my time at UCI and how that feeling always stays with me. ""College days, swiftly pass, imbued with mem'ries fond, And the recollection slowly fades away, Our renowned A Phi A, and dear fraternal bond, May they ever abide and with us stay."""