Rafael Viscarra
Human Rights Studies Class of 2025
What was your major/minor? Why did you choose it?
I was an English and History with a minor in Human Rights Studying English literature seemed like the natural choice for someone who found escape in fictional tales growing up. History and human rights came up naturally early in my undergraduate career. I took a few classes in these fields, fell in love with the material and decided to pursue them more formally.
What was your first job after graduation?
After a brief period of unemployment, I managed to find a job as a part-time English tutor at a local charter school. After some months working there, I got promoted to a full-time tutor for both English and math!
What are you up to now?
I currently work as a tutor for high school students at a charter school near my hometown.
How did your experience at UC Davis prepare you for the next step in your academic and professional journey?
The impact of my degree has been twofold. It has prepared me with the skills to think critically and given me the mental stamina to juggle multiple topics and tasks. But it has also altered me on a deeper level. With degrees such as English and human rights, that encourage you to question the world around you, I find that I am less inclined to accept the status quo. In an era when higher education is constantly under attack, especially fields in the humanities, I thank my studies for helping me realize how dangerous that can be.
What's your advice for someone considering your minor?
Prepare yourself for a TON of reading! Some of it may not make sense, some of it you may hate, but there’s also a feeling of accomplishment when you get through a particularly difficult text. I would also encourage people to protect their headspace. You study some very difficult topics. These topics are important, but I also hope people take the time to reflect on what they’re learning and find healthy ways to cope when it gets too much.
What was your favorite part of your undergraduate program here?
I have found some all-time favorite pieces of media (books, movies, etc.) during my time as an undergrad. Another definite highlight was making friends within my various departments as well as outside of school.
What are you most proud of from your undergrad experience?
Being able to say I graduated from UC Davis is an accomplishment I will never get tired of flexing.
Do you have a professor or a class you want to shout out?
I have to shout out Professor Luna Victoria in the human rights program! I took several classes with her and my favorite is definitely human rights in the popular imagination. It was such an interesting topic, and we watched some incredible films that left a lasting impact on me.
What were you involved in outside of class (clubs, internships, etc.)?
I interned for a quarter at Davis Senior High School in an advanced American literature class and I worked all four years of undergrad as a barista at the Peet’s Coffee in the Silo.