Venus Mack

My major is Sociology. Being a Black girl growing up to a single father of five, I experienced and observed the disparities people in the Bay Area faced. I would love to continue my education in a learning environment that is devoted to dealing with issues and solutions that impact marginalized communities. After high school, I immediately went to work to help bring more income into the house after my dad was laid off. I was actively apart of many businesses being created from the ground up. I helped create business plans, get permits, draft operating agreements, and choose locations. I learned how business is more than operations, because it required me to communicate effectively with customers and employees. I went to work at my family’s tax/insurance business, which was located on 35th and International in Oakland. Prostitution, drugs, and police activity occurred daily. It was here where my enthusiasm for Sociology began. I had leeway in the family business, so I persuaded and hired some women from the sex trade to be a part of our team. Not only did I train them, I researched and referred them to local rehabilitation facilities, and shelters. I gained valuable interpersonal and critical thinking skills by working with these women. It was extremely gratifying to see them transform into self-sufficient individuals. Although, I was initially interested in Business I became fascinated by the various factors that involved critical social issues.
In 2013, I was formally introduced to Sociology at Merritt College. The conflict theory opened my eyes to reasons why people resort to deviant behavior in low-socioeconomic areas. I am intrigued by Marxism, and its explanation of social and economic relations. I see a desperate need for more supportive services in the Bay Area. I was accepted into UCLA, UC Davis, UC Santa Cruz, and UC Berkeley, ultimately I have chosen to attend UC Berkeley in Fall 2017.