Alyssa Gonzaga
2L; Admissions Ambassador
Hometown:
Quezon City, Philippines; San Diego, CA
Professional Interests:
Labor and Employment Law; Immigration Law; Administrative Law; Impact Litigation; Government; Public Interest
Student Organizations:
Asian Pacific American Law Student Association (Southeast Asian Community Engagement Chair); Law Students for Educational Equality (External Affairs Chair); Labor & Work Law Society; First Generation Professionals Program
Extracurricular:
Moot Court; Filipino Lawyers of Orange County Bar Association
UCI Law Clinic:
Civil Rights Litigation Clinic
Pro Bono:
Workers' Rights Clinic; Reproductive Health Legal Access Project; Farmworkers Know-Your-Rights Research; Transforming Justice Orange County – Incarcerated Individual Letter Writing for Conditions; Transgender Legal Assistance Clinic
Housing:
UCI Graduate Housing (Ask me about living on campus!)
Meet Alyssa:
"Know history, know self. No history, no self." - Jose Rizal, Filipino writer and hero
My grandfather was a farmer in a small town near Manila. My parents sacrificed their professional careers to start over in a new country that did not recognize their educational degrees. I attend UCI Law with immense pride knowing that I carry my home, my heritage, and my history with me in everything I do as a law student and future attorney. Law school is not easy, and the odds can be against you when you are an immigrant, first in your family to attend college in the U.S., or from a low socioeconomic background. Knowing where I come from and what it took to get here drives me to do everything I do with care, compassion, and competence. I am proud to be a first-generation and low-income (FGLI) Filipina immigrant at UCI Law, and I am here to pay it forward to my loved ones, community, and other law school hopefuls.
What I love most about pursuing a legal degree is the endless opportunities that come with it. My three gap years before law school taught me to be open to what may come while remaining grounded in my values as a public-interest oriented student. I came into law school with a strong interest in labor law, but my summer job was spent working at an immigration court in Santa Ana. I never imagined I would ever work for the U.S. Department of Justice, but it turned out to be the best fit out of my job offers. I learned so much about what areas of law I liked and disliked, as well as what type of work environment I wanted. Though I am still very passionate about labor law and workers’ rights, I aim to always seek out new and different experiences, whether it is in my clinic, pro bono, or job prospects, to find where I can best use my passion and skills to better my community.
I believe the key to a successful future at UCI Law and beyond is to build community and treat each other with kindness! Because UCI Law is so new, we as young legal professionals have the unique opportunity to create a law school experience that welcomes new traditions and forges new paths. We are not only classmates, but future colleagues. We may even befriend each other along the way. Our legal community should be a safe, welcoming, and diverse space. Especially for my fellow FGLIs, know that although you will be facing many challenges, your legal degree will grant you the privilege to create the change you want to see in the law. You are standing on the shoulders of giants and you are not alone. I encourage all law students to go forth, be bold, and be authentic in everything you do!
When I'm not in the classroom or library, I'm in the studio dancing, cooking for my loved ones, or re-watching Bob's Burgers episodes. I also love to visit my home in southeast San Diego to visit my family, play with my cats, and eat at all my favorite local spots!