Fatima Jinnah, a graduate counseling major, is a recipient of the 2006/2007
William R. Hearst/CSU Trustees' Award for Outstanding Achievement. Nineteen
students throughout the California State University system were presented
with awards of $3,000 each from the CSU Office of the Chancellor in September.
Jinnah is pursuing a career in college and career counseling and is hoping
to complete her master of science in counseling in 2007.
A native of East San Jose, Jinnah discovered a passion for helping others
succeed in grade school when she helped classmates with their homework.
In high school she volunteered to grade papers for a remedial algebra
class; eventually she tutored the students and enjoyed the rewards of
fostering their pride and self-respect through school work.
"I went up to one boy who came to class sporadically, didn't turn
in homework and never brought a book, backpack or pencil to class," Jinnah
said. "I decided to teach him a few algebra tricks."
Jinnah soon discovered that the student had a good understanding
of algebra and was very quick to catch on to new concepts. "It
was such an exciting feeling to be a part of teaching and learning
and I
loved the pride I saw in his eyes. I've been tutoring ever since."
While working toward a bachelor of arts in development studies at University
of California, Berkeley, Jinnah volunteered to tutor and mentor at a
local middle school and through her place of worship. At SF State she
became an AmeriCorps volunteer and student adviser with the Advising
Center and College of San Mateo Career Development Center. She was also
a counselor at the Foundation for College Education in East Palo Alto
and at the YWCA in East San Jose.
Rebecca Toporek, SF State assistant professor of counseling, said it
is easy to see how Jinnah, a leader in SF State's Counseling Students
Association, stood out among all the candidates for the Hearst/CSU scholarships.
"Fatima is as motivated and passionately committed to her community
as she is to her studies," Toporek said. "She takes what she
learns in the community and brings it back to her studies, her classes
and the program."
Jinnah is confident that she has chosen the right professional
path for herself. "Through the process of helping others get in touch
with their interests and ambitions, I became more aware of my own," she
said.
She is thrilled to receive the Hearst/CSU support, which
will help with her tuition, books and some living expenses, but her
concern for the
students she counsels is always on her mind. "It's very difficult
to work and go to college," she said. "Add to that the time
it takes to look for financial support and getting through college can
seem overwhelming."
Nonetheless, she urges the students she counsels to
persevere. "I
always tell them that there is more help out there than you think."
-- Denize
Springer
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