# @ucberkeleyofficial on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/DQxAc3vEmxv
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/64635346-ucberkeleyofficial-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/bc561e97d5.jpg
- **Posted:** 2025-11-07T18:43:44.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** UC Berkeley (@ucberkeleyofficial) — https://gondola.cc/ucberkeleyofficial

## Caption

“My name is Joy Wilson. I’m a senior double-majoring in African American studies and legal studies, and I’m a first-gen student. 

My mom migrated here from Guyana in South America. She is a single parent, and because it’s always been just me and her, she’s my best friend, my ride or die. She’s worked at Albertsons for the past 21 years, and she loves and supports me in everything. She’s always instilled in me the importance of higher education. She just wanted me to have a better life and succeed in whatever field I chose.

Berkeley was my first major admission; I got a letter of acceptance and the Regents’ and Chancellor’s scholarship. I knew nothing about Berkeley or the prestige, but my mom would tell people, and they’d freak out: ‘That’s amazing!’ I looked it up and found it’s the number one public university and has a history of advocacy.

I’m from SoCal, Vista, CA. It’s predominantly a Latinx community, not a lot of Black people around — mostly just my family.

My second semester, I took a history class where I learned about Black history for the first time. African American studies classes make me reflect on myself and my experiences growing up: If I’m going to the grocery store, why do I feel anxious and that I need to leave having bought something so they don’t think I stole? It’s because of how Black people have been perceived and judged in society.

Learning African American studies has also allowed me to love myself, reclaim who I am and not subject myself solely to how other people think of me.

I’m currently applying for Ph.D. programs in African American studies and Black studies. I want to gain more knowledge, do more research and see how I can give back to the community, specifically Black girls. My Haas Scholars research is focused on how policing, surveillance and the fear of punishment influence how Black girls form their identity, specifically in a non-Black space like where I grew up.

I’m doing it for the younger version of myself. Bringing to light the oppression they may be facing will hopefully help them navigate life in a world that doesn’t truly see and understand Black girls.”

#ResearchWithResults #UCBerkeley

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## Tags

researchwithresults, ucberkeley

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