Kalena Masching never expected to end up at UC Berkeley. She struggled in school growing up, navigating anxiety and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) without an early diagnosis or roadmap to success as a first generation student.
It was not until her 30s, during the COVID-19 pandemic, that she quietly made the decision to try again. She enrolled in community college and discovered, for the first time, what it meant to be fully supported as a student. She thrived there academically.
That decision changed everything. Kalena transferred to Berkeley, where she will graduate this month with a degree in sociology, a minor in education and a 4.0 GPA. Along the way, she has mentored young students, coached middle school athletes and developed a philosophy shaped by lived experience: that success is not one size fits all, and that education can be a powerful tool for understanding both yourself and the world around you.
This fall, she will continue her journey at San Jose State University, pursuing a master’s degree in counseling with the goal of supporting first-generation students like herself and underserved communities.
Kalena spoke to Berkeley Social Sciences recently about finding her path, the lessons she brings to the students she mentors and what comes next. The interview is edited for clarity.
Tell us about your background and why you chose UC Berkeley.
Kalena Masching:I mean, who wouldn't choose UC Berkeley after being accepted? I barely passed high school. School was not my thing. Then I was diagnosed with anxiety and ADHD in my 30s and suddenly everything made sense. Before that, I didn't realize that my struggles in school were not because I was dumb, but that I struggle with time management, time blindness and deadlines. I'm a first-generation college student, and I grew up low income in a really affluent area. I feel that those of us who didn't have college-educated parents – or didn't know how to navigate the systems – sort of fell through the cracks.
During COVID, I decided to go back to school, and I didn't really tell anybody. I went back to school. I went to Cañada Community College in Redwood City, which is a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI). The motto of an HSI is to look holistically at the whole student and to help them navigate institutions. That was the best school experience I’ve ever had because my professors and counselors looked at me as a person, not as a student ID number.
After I finished my college application, I was hopeful for admission to San Jose State, but my counselor urged me to apply to a UC. As I also applied to UC Davis and UC Santa Cruz, and I said to my husband, “Should I just click the UC Berkeley button?” My husband replied, “Just click the button. It's $75 – we'll make it work. Worst case, you don’t get in.” And then I got into Berkeley!
Then I called my parents and said, “So, I'm graduating from community college with an associate degree in sociology, with honors – and by the way, I got into Berkeley.” They were like, “I'm sorry, what? (a) You went back to school, and (b) you got into Berkeley?
Tell us about the degrees you’re graduating with. How do you incorporate it into your work with children?
Kalena Masching:I'm majoring in sociology with a minor in education. My education minor let me observe my students and receive credit for my field work. This work allowed me to analyze my students beyond what they are doing and looking further into why they're doing it.
My educational background from Cal also allows me to offer children context into the sociologically created identities and social constructs to help explain who they are and who they're becoming.
Can you elaborate on your experience working with adolescents?
Kalena Masching:I am a softball coach for a team of middle school girls. Alongside that, I still play softball recreationally with friends. The girls were initially confused by the sentiment that softball could be a fun activity rather than a pathway to scholarships or being scouted. For many of them, this experience has been eye-opening. Firstly, I am the first female coach they have ever had. Moreover, they are learning that you can do something purely for enjoyment.
When it comes to the science students I coach, they know better than to ask me for help in science, but I’m really good with logic and reason. The biggest area I focus on with them is interpersonal skills. I emphasize that although the game is a competition, they are a part of a team, and it is important to work together. These skills aren’t just a matter of competition: they’re workplace skills and life skills.
My goal with these kids is to show them that there's more to life than what you do. My number one tip is you have to work to live, not live to work. All the money in the world doesn't matter if you don't have time to enjoy it. I also want to teach them that there is more than one path in life and that success comes in different formats.
What does graduating from UC Berkeley mean to you?
Kalena Masching:It means so much. My aunt passed away last year, and I am the first person on my mother's side to go to college. It means a great deal because my aunts and uncles didn't get this opportunity. My mom didn't get this opportunity.
I have been the one in charge of my entire family for over a decade, so finally being able to take time for myself and go back to school is amazing.
What are your plans after graduation?
Kalena Masching:I was accepted to my top choice for graduate school, San Jose State University. I am pursuing a master's degree in counseling with a dual licensing in school counseling and clinical-based counseling. After that, my long-term goal is to work in underserved communities and support first-generation college students who grew up in a non-dominant culture.
