2022 Cohort, 2023 uiguides
19
edits
Changes
==Bio==
Greetings all. My name is Raymond Juballa. My life has been filled with creativity and countless pivots. Start with my surname JUBALLLA when I was adopted by my father, David Jew, and my mother, Rosanne Balla, drop the hyphen, respell, and you have a creative non-traditional last name that inspires conversation.
Non-tradiditional is also my journey to and through Menlo. I spent my pre-school years in Hong Kong, elementary in Spanish Immersion, did Saturday Mandarin school, joined a learn-by-doing youth development program, raised all major livestock for county fair, progressed through leadership and mentoring training while attending high school. Thereafter, I explored local community colleges and was well on my way to becoming a hands-on jack of all trades. However, I missed the livestock, so I migrated to Merced College where I was able to join a livestock showing team and a mechanized agricultural equipment program. I began what I called, “living my best life”.
Then, came a big pivot. A spinal cord injury and quadriplegia. I had to rethink my education and career plan. After three months in the hospital and still in rehab, I returned to the College of San Mateo to earn an AS degree in Computer Aided Design using special accessibility tools and software. I had to problem solve multiple times a day just to do normal daily tasks without the use of my hands. I realized that I was an innovator. I recognized traditional career paths were not going to be a great fit and I would have to create my own path. Luckily Menlo’s Entrepreneurship and Innovation program was within reach. I became a transfer student, a commuter, and began forging my way down a new path. I revived the Oaks Innovation Club, became a University Innovation Fellow and President of the Student Government Association. I am proud to see operations in place to perpetuate what my colleagues and I have initiated in all three organizations. For my senior year, I received my first taste of independence since my accident and became a resident in the wheelchair accessible John Arrillaga Hall. I am optimistic for my future and can truly say Menlo and its people have been a big part of me being able to claim once again, “I am living my best life”.
==Achievements==