A year away from earning her bachelor’s degree, Patricia Yang has found her stride.
Originally a political science major, Yang imagined she would become a lawyer practicing family law but felt a disconnect in her political science classes. She decided to study child and family science instead, while also serving as an academic success coach on campus — a role in which she’s able to support students and carry on the legacy of her father, who was a counselor for Fresno Unified School District and supported at-risk Southeast Asian students.
Academic Success Coaching program coordinator Mazie Moua said of Yang, “She gets where students are coming from. She has a contagious attitude and energy. When she walks into a room, she lights it up…She encourages and motivates others with her positivity.”
Born and raised in Fresno, Yang attended Hoover High School, where she participated in student council, Key Club, Red Cross Club and varsity cheer while taking a variety of Advanced Placement classes. She graduated in 2020 as a valedictorian and enrolled at Fresno State, where both of her parents earned their master’s degrees.
Yang said, “[As the daughter of Hmong refugees], I was always taught that achieving the American dream can be done by pursuing higher education…[and] it’s kind of a full circle moment when I’m here — knowing that [my parents] were in the same shoes. [Being here] definitely puts things into perspective for me.”
Leading up to her first semester of college, the world was still highly impacted by the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and Yang anticipated she would encounter difficulties studying fully remote for the second semester in a row. At the same time, her life was further altered as her father was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.
“I found out in May 2020…and he passed away on my first day of college, so it was very fast…Because of this devastating loss, I debated whether or not to stay in school. I ultimately decided I would, because of my father’s value in education.”
As an academic success coach, Yang is able to work in a capacity similar to her father’s, mentoring first-year students in need of extra support in English and math.
“I meet with these students one-on-one and connect them to resources in order to create a better college experience for them…tutoring, the writing center, even things outside of the classroom, like the Student Health and Counseling Center. I also conduct and facilitate Academic Success Workshops throughout the semester to get them ready for exams.”
“A lot of times, these students just want someone to talk to, so I’m that person for them. I’m also teaching them about time management, how to study…just setting them up with the right tools to be successful.”
Academic success coaching is one of three academic support programs offered through Fresno State’s Learning Center.
While serving as an academic success coach, Yang has also benefited from the department’s encouragement of professional development and its two-tier mentorship program, allowing her to learn from more experienced student coaches as well as professional staff members.
Yang said, “Mazie Moua has had a great impact on my growth personally and professionally. Seeing individuals like her, who look like me, holding positions as coordinators in special programs within higher education has motivated me.”
In addition to her studies and work with the Learning Center, Yang is a member of a student organization, Bulldogs for Kids, which hosts events on campus for K-12 students and distributes classroom supplies to teachers in nearby school districts.
After earning her bachelor’s degree next spring, she plans to pursue a master’s degree in counseling at Fresno State and serve students in the Central Valley.
“Serving students in the Central Valley is super important [to me],” she said. “Fresno has always been home for me. A lot of my understanding, my experience and connections are within Fresno…using [all of that], I’ll be able to create an inclusive and welcoming environment for students and know what their values are, too.”
