>> The Long Beach experience is, you know, having been born and raised
in the city, it's family all the time.
And I still continue to be engaged in the Long Beach family.
And, you know, I like to pay it forward.
I'm very grateful for the opportunities I had while as a student here.
The resume that I presented when I applied for graduate school came
with the president's recommendation, letter of recommendation.
So to know that I had accessibility to the president
of Long Beach State really sent a message when I applied to the top school
in the nation for educational leadership.
You know, you don't get that too often.
But I was doing something paying it forward while I was a student here, and I continue to do
so as an adult because I know there are students here, like I was,
who are looking for those opportunities.
And they're the ones that I welcome and support to this day.