"I'm for truth, no matter who tells it.  I'm for justice, no matter who it is for or against.  I'm a human being, first and foremost, and as such I'm for whoever and whatever benefits humanity as a whole."

- Malcolm X

Asha Thompson is a fourth-year English major at the University of California, Santa Barbara.   As she begins the final stretch of her career as an undergraduate at UCSB, Asha is grateful for the experiences she's had, and for the opportunities to positively impact the lives of other students.   As a first year, Asha served as the Multi-cultural Awareness Chair for her residence hall, receiving extensive diversity training and honing her skills to serve her community's needs for diversity.   Throughout her time at the university, Asha has worked as an aid in elementary classes, and also in childcare with kids ranging from infants to preteens.   Asha's passion for learning and making those around her feel comfortable and validated led her right to UCSB's Black Student Union, where she served as the Outreach Co-chair her junior year.   Asha also served as the Community Service Chair for the Black women's support group on campus, Akanke.   From facilitating events that served the queer youth in the local area, to performing in open mic's and talent shows, Asha's time at UCSB has been full of positive learning experiences that have shown her how passionate she is about bringing change and open-mindedness into others' lives.   This year, as the Director of Education for the Black Student Union and the Secretary for Black Grad, Asha is proud to call herself a "Gaucho", an English Literature connoisseur, and a soon-to-be UCSB graduate!   After graduation, she would like to participate in the Teach For America Program, and hopefully parlay her experiences in the classroom into a Master's Degree in Public Policy and Education so that she can continue to help young students flourish.