There are over 11,000 students currently enrolled at Cal State Bakersfield, and one of them works three jobs, holds leadership positions in four different clubs and loves to play video games. She is, Sabrina Ung, a third-year student, majoring in electrical engineering and minoring in computer science.
Ung has a tight schedule; she works at her full-time job at AC Electric in the morning before attending class on campus and then returning to AC Electric to complete her seven-hour shift.
She then returns to CSUB, where she’s working at either the Fabrication Lab or serving as an instructional student assistant for students in introduction to engineering one or two.
Despite juggling responsibilities, Ung is able to keep a lighthearted and charismatic attitude, which can be deceiving when pitted against her robotic-like discipline.
Ung credits her mother, for instilling within her a sense of hard work, as she was “always working” to provide for Ung and her two siblings as a single mother.
“I just love my mom. I think she’s great. She’s the one who raised me,” said Ung.
Ung plans on repaying her mother for her years of hard work as a General Manager Coordinator at Pepsi by turning the tables and eventually financially supporting her.
“I really want to retire my mom,” said Ung.
Alejandro Murillo, Natural Sciences, Mathematics and Engineers Internship and Career Coordinator speaks to just the type of person that Ung is, as he recounted the times when Ung visited his office amidst the difficult process of trying to land an internship.
“She came into my office and she goes, ‘What am I doing wrong?’ and she wasn’t doing anything wrong, it wasn’t her time yet,” said Murillo.
Despite her rejections, Murillo said that “she never stopped” and had the “motivation to do better each day.”
This constant persistence is how she finally landed a position at AC Electric, where her performance resulted into a full-time position.
Ung’s desire to be better each and every day is also what qualifies her as a student leader on campus, one who actively participates within her community, through her extra-curricular involvement.
She serves as the President of the Computer and Programing Youth Engineers, which is primarily a social club meant for engineering students to meet one another.
“You know how engineer majors are… they keep to themselves, they are very shy,” said Ung.
She is proud that her club “opens people up” and sees the positive impact that CAPY Engineers has had on her peers. “I like to think people made friends through my club,” she said.
Vice President of the CAPY Engineering Club, Marlon Elvir, called Ung a “natural leader” as he recounted her involvement during their first ever event.
“[She] …address[ed] our student peers to interact with our club booth [and] encouraged new member sign-ups and general interest. She is a very enthusiastic leader,” said Elvir.
However, Ung’s club involvement does not end with CAPY Engineers, as she also serves as the President for the Society of Women Engineers. It is here where Ung brings industry professionals on campus to give presentations, and network with members.
Additionally, Ung serves as the Vice President of the Aerospace club and the Secretary of the robotics club.
Ung’s perspective is what gives her the perseverance to not lose purpose within her busy schedule, especially during the moments when life becomes overwhelming.
“I am someone who shows my gratitude. If I don’t want to do something, like wake up early in the morning, I’m like ‘Oh I’m so grateful that I get to wake up in my home, and I’m so grateful that I have a job to go and work for,” said Ung.
She recounted an experience all too familiar with most if not all university students, where her gratitude allowed her to persevere through a course with a challenging professor.
“Like if I have a really bad professor, …I still had to tell myself ‘Oh, I’m so grateful because they’re making me work really hard for my grade,” said Ung.
Although Ung has a lot to be proud of, she is reluctant to speak about herself, and is a living example of what hard work, persistence and a great mindset can achieve.
