Student Profile: Sharon Jan

What were you doing before you came to GSPP? 

Before coming to GSPP, I worked at a small community development organization in the San Antonio district of Oakland as the Director of Elementary Programs. I ran their afterschool program and summer camp for 60 kids, which meant I had the glamorous duties of cleaning up bathroom accidents and organizing our lost and found (aka the jacket graveyard). My proudest achievements, in no particular order, were: implementing a daily "veggie challenge," finally hosting a successful water games day where nobody cried, and building out a daily enrichment clubs program. I loved my work, which gave me a more intimate perspective on program design and implementation, as well as the interests and needs of our families. 

What made you decide to pursue an MPP? 

I loved youth development work and could easily have done it for much longer. However, the joy of working with students was tempered by the consistent awareness of how their present lives and future outcomes were negatively impacted by entrenched societal issues. I felt ill-equipped to confront these issues, and wanted to change that. Pursuing an MPP, especially in the Bay Area, felt like the ideal way to not only name these issues, but work to make things a little better for low- to moderate-income families.

Why Goldman? What are you most excited about over the coming two years? 

Goldman represents an intersection of many things I hope for in a graduate education. It is academically rigorous and has excellent faculty in my areas of interest (children and families, education). I also appreciate Berkeley's public ethos, which differentiates it from some of the other private institutions I considered. Ultimately, its alumni reflect the type of work that I believe GSPP encourages--thoughtful, community-driven public service at all levels of government and society. The best part--it's all in my backyard! I am excited to stay in Oakland and continue to deepen the relationships I have here. I believe that staying connected to my neighborhood community will be essential to my education and wellbeing in the next two years. Over the coming years, I'm excited for the opportunity to nerd out with like-minded folks, whether through classes or research. I'm also looking forward to building the skillset that will enable me to walk into places of power with authority--understanding data analysis, power structures, public management, and more. 

What are your plans for after you graduate? 

After I graduate, I hope to stay in California, and most likely Oakland. I'm interested in working in local government, which feels like the locus of my interests and experiences. However, I'm at GSPP to learn, so I'm open-minded about my post-graduation path.

What keeps you busy outside of GSPP? 

Outside of GSPP, I spend most of my time with loved ones. My preferred activities are reading, cooking, and low-stakes outdoor activities (think nature walks, not hikes). I also volunteer at my previous organization.