Meet Doreen Fonseca (she/her), a former Jordan High student and current student at the University of California, Davis. We connected to talk about her college journey and the impact the Watkins Fellowship has had on her life. Read more below.
Doreen Fonseca still remembers the moment she learned she had received the Watkins Fellowship. Just before graduating from Jordan High School in Watts in 2021, an email arrived bearing the life-changing news. “I told my mom, and I started crying—and she started crying,” Doreen recalled. “As a first-gen, it really helped me a lot. I was so blessed.”
Launched in 2021 with the support of philanthropist Jane Watkins, the Watkins Fellowship awards up to $48,000 to two high school seniors pursuing a college education from each of the five high schools in the Partnership for Los Angeles Schools’ network.
Now, as Doreen prepares to graduate from UC Davis on June 13 with a double major in Chicano Studies and Spanish and a minor in Education, she reflects on the journey that brought her here—one shaped by resilience, personal growth, and the unwavering support of the Watkins Fellowship.
“My first year was rough. I was so homesick. I’d never been away from home before,” she shared. Doreen struggled academically, failing classes and facing academic probation. During that difficult time, her former Watkins Fellowship mentor, Ash Sanchez, and current mentor, Jamie Pedroza, became a guiding light.
“They didn’t just help me academically—they helped me emotionally,” Doreen said. “They found campus resources for me, encouraged me, and even suggested I explore Chicano Studies, since I was doing well in those classes.”
That suggestion was pivotal. Doreen found joy and purpose in learning about her community. “The more I took Chicano Studies classes, the more I connected with the culture.”
The Watkins Fellowship’s impact went far beyond the classroom. The scholarship provided critical financial support and gave Doreen practical tools like resume writing, tax filing, and money management guidance. “They helped me be more independent,” she said. “When my parents couldn’t support me financially, Watkins was there.”
As the first in her family to attend college, Doreen’s journey has been deeply personal. Along the way, she faced difficult moments, including painful family struggles, like her big sister’s drug addiction, and challenging roommate dynamics that tested her communication and self-advocacy skills. But she views these moments as opportunities for growth. “We’re growing and learning and maturing at the same time,” she said. “I learned how to speak up, to have hard conversations, [and] to stand up for myself.”
She also found love and stability in her personal life, marrying her high school sweetheart while managing her academic responsibilities. Her parents, who didn’t have the opportunity to pursue higher education, now beam with pride. “My dad calls me ‘Dorito,’ and he says, ‘I’m so proud of you, Dorito. I love you, you got this.’”
Doreen hopes her success can serve as a beacon for her younger siblings, especially her 9th-grade sister, who is already taking AP classes. “I feel like a role model. I tell her, ‘You’ve got to push through.’” Her niece, whom her mother is raising, also looks to Doreen for inspiration, even as Doreen navigates the complexities of being both a sibling and a mentor.
Doreen’s path after graduation is still unfolding. She is considering applying to Teach for America and exploring roles in bilingual education or as a teacher’s assistant. In the meantime, she plans to work at a daycare to gain experience and income.
Through every challenge and triumph, the Watkins Fellowship has remained a constant source of support. “They helped me become the person I am today,” Doreen said. “I’m so grateful for the financial help, the mentorship, the emotional support …I wouldn’t be here without them.”
As she prepares to walk across the stage at UC Davis, diploma in hand, Doreen’s heart is full of gratitude and dreams for the future. “It’s a lot of happy tears,” she said. “I did it.”