Fast and Exciting Beginnings

My name is Ariana Bayardo, and I am a first year at Cal. I am very new to the scene, but I have big goals for myself in the next four years. At Cal my main goal is to be accepted into the business program, Haas. The dream would consist of making great connections with athletics, faculty, alumni, and the Cal community. I want to be able to work in a creative space and make an impact that will better others. I am off on a great start working with DEIBJ as a DEIBJ Content and Operations Support Intern. Working as an intern for the DEIBJ Office has exposed me to numerous opportunities in the very short time I have been here.

I have always had a passion for sports and I knew once I arrived at Cal that I would want to be involved in athletics. I played many sports growing up, as well as managing sports teams, and participating in sports medicine. I played for my school St. Plus X - St. Matthias Academy as well as multiple volleyball club teams for SCVA.

Competitive is perhaps the best word to describe me, which is why I always found myself thriving in the sports world. Cal is such a large school I was unsure how I would fit into this new environment. Determined to make connections, I attended the event "Late night at Haas," where I was lucky enough to meet Dr. Ty-Ron Douglas. I was trying to get the attention of the coaches when he noticed me. We talked after the event where he explained to me what DEIBJ was all about, education, celebration, and acceleration. After hearing about what the DEIBJ program was all about, I knew it was a purist. Being involved with the DEIBJ program would allow me to make great connections in my community while being surrounded by sports. Everything moved so quickly and I couldn't believe how I got so lucky to meet these people. It taught me a very valuable lesson that advocating for myself will open a lot of doors. Throughout my years in the department, I will continue to embrace the quick-moving and exciting pace. Dr. Ty introduced me to the team, who are undeniably good people, and I knew I had a place where I fit in.

In the short time I have spent at Cal, I learned that the work moves very quickly. The day after meeting the DEIBJ team, I was already getting involved with the "Race for Change." The day was full of meeting new people, seeing so many facilities, and most importantly hearing about Cal history.

Every day I spend with the DEIBJ team, I become more involved and informed. The team works hard to uplift others and tell their stories. Every story is always so inspiring and provides a new insight that you couldn't learn from just watching a game. Sports have always been a part of my life and I love to learn how they are a part of other peoples' lives.

The topic of women in sports is something which I hold close to my heart. One of my goals at Cal is to learn how to uplift everyone, but specifically women in sports. There has always been a bigger emphasis on men's sports and I would love to learn what is the best method to emphasize women's sports just as much, if not more. Working with the DEIBJ Office, I have already been exposed to people making the same efforts. The Cal women's basketball team is so inspiring to me. Watching all the players work is amazing, and seeing what the coaches do is equally inspiring to me. Hearing the coaches discuss events and strategies to promote their team and women in sports is so refreshing to hear. Just sitting in on one of their conversations was so insightful and makes me want to further my efforts. One of my goals beyond Cal is to start an organization which uplifts women's sports and I know the DEIBJ team, and others I meet at Cal, will prepare me for this dream.

A freshman at UC Berkeley, Ariana Bayardo works in Content and Operations Support in the Cal Athletics DEIBJ Office, and she is assisting Cal women's basketball as a team manager.

California Golden Bears Athletics

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