Caleb Tam, College Corps
Pre-Pharmacy Student Pays it Forward
As a future healthcare worker and current student at University of the Pacific, Caleb Tam wanted the chance to practice compassionate care in a community setting and #CaliforniansForAll College Corps provided him the perfect opportunity.
What made you want to join College Corps?
I am pursuing pediatric pharmacy and will be working with kids, so I see my fellowship as a great way to build that portfolio of experience. As a future healthcare worker, it is important to have a compassionate heart and build connections with those you treat.
What do you do as a College Corps fellow?
I joined the fellowship and began working with middle schoolers through Improve Your Tomorrow, a college access program that works to increase the rate of young men of color attending and graduating college through mentorship, tutoring and brotherhood. Being a mentor with Improve Your Tomorrow and seeing the importance a mentorship has on young men—it’s been eye-opening. I’m mentoring students while serving as a “big brother” for young men who need a positive male role model.
What’s something from your service that makes you feel proud?
Being a mentor has helped me develop leadership skills. Seeing the impact that I’m making has been the highlight of my fellowship experience. When my mentee first joined Improve Your Tomorrow, he was going through a lot of struggles and wasn’t doing too well in school. We were concerned and just wanted to be of support. Fast forward to now, he has been showing up a lot more and his grades have been improving. It’s great to see how much he has grown. I’m set to graduate in 2028 and I’m excited to continue to build out my portfolio of experience working with children.
What would you tell other students considering the program?
I think College Corps is an amazing program and anyone who has the opportunity should take it. Not only will you learn to work as a team, but also learn to improve your leadership skills and broaden your perspective on life as a whole.
