Joaquin Quintero

A major achievement and personal point of pride for Joaquin, a student in Eleanor Roosevelt College, will be receiving a college degree in Political Science – Data Analytics. He feels real gratitude for his family and their support; “they are brilliant, in their own right, but few were able to complete a college degree.”  After graduating from UC San Diego, Joaquin hopes to attend UCLA’s Law School and receive a JD degree so he can litigate for NGOs to change education policy on a structural level.

Joaquin is proud of his Chula Vista upbringing. He states that, “I have an identity that places me between two worlds, American and Mexican, an upbringing blended in a manner that belongs to me, which I have the responsibility of sharing and the charge of defending.” Joaquin takes a spiritual and holistic approach to life. His skills include the ability to remain calm and patient. He doesn’t need to find nuance in everything and is willing to wait and learn before passing judgment on an impulse, or lashing out simply for the gratification of doing so.

At UC San Diego, Joaquin is involved in several broad and diverse interests. One is the Academic Achievement Hub where he serves as a Learning Strategist. In this role, he works to equip students with learning tools and strategies to effectively study, take notes, and prepare for exams.  In addition, he is active in the Center for Student Involvement, whose purpose is raising awareness about open access publication and related issues and giving students a voice in promoting greater accessibility of published information. Joaquin serves as a Trustee of the UAW Union 2865 and is a principal member of the Hopkins Sax Jam, an all-saxophone performance ensemble that strives to promote the art of saxophone through public performance at UC San Diego and the greater San Diego community. In his future, Joaquin sees a Golden Retriever, whom he will name Sebastian.