Paulene De Mesa

Paulene De Mesa is an undergraduate student at the University of California, San Diego where she majors in Political Science with a minor in Sociology. Beginning from her volunteer work in high school as President of Key Club, she developed a love for reaching out to the people and trying to make a change. This drive for change translated to her choices at UCSD where she is affiliated with the Community Law Project (CLP), which encourages volunteer work and guides students to a path in the field of law. She also joined the Youth Success and Outreach Program (YSOP). This program lets students volunteer at foster youth homes every week to make a difference in their future. With her experience in volunteer work and leadership, she aspires to become either a family lawyer or a foreign service officer for the United States. After she graduates, she hopes to take a break from schoolwork and visit the Philippines for a bit. Afterwards, she can then decide her path as a graduate student. She chose to apply to SEJ to gain a better understanding of her city of San Diego and to learn from current community leaders to make better changes for the working people. In her spare time she enjoys outdoor activities such as running, hiking, and swimming with friends.