Catchin' Up With a Cookie: Kevin Bernal-Rivera
Kevin Bernal-Rivera
2018 Undergraduate Transfer Scholar, University of California Los Angeles
Kevin is a mixed methods market researcher at Material+, where he is involved in all aspects of the research process, including survey design, analysis, and report development. Throughout undergrad he was involved in interdisciplinary research labs, where he blended the use of mathematics and computer science within the psychological and biological sciences. He has conducted research at the community college and undergraduate level, as well as professionally at the National Institutes of Health. While at UCLA, he served as an editor at the Undergraduate Research Journal of Psychology and the La Genete Newsmagazine. In his free time, he enjoys reading, playing basketball, and training Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
What does being a Cooke Scholar mean to you?
Being Cooke Scholar to me represents freedom. It represents the freedom to achieve, freedom to dream, and freedom from obstacles. Learning that I was going to be a Cooke Scholar changed the trajectory of my life. At that point, I had recently become a permanent resident who worked as a math tutor at my community college. Although I had some small savings, I was in no position to attend a 4-year university without a significant amount of debt. This worried me and I felt like I was stuck with limited options. However, once I found out that I was a recipient, my stress and worries about my future were addressed. I felt secure about my future and it gave me further confidence to pursue my goals.
With the support of the Foundation, I was able to join research labs, university clubs, and live on campus. I was able to network, meet life-long friends, and graduate with no debt. Not to mention the fact that I am apart of the Cooke community, which is filled with so many inspiring and high-achieving individuals. I have met and made great friends through the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation. The best part of being a Cooke Scholar is feeling like I could be myself and knowing that I will be accepted.
The freedom of being a Cooke Scholar transcends all aspects of life – socially, financially, and culturally – which is why I am so grateful to be part of this Foundation.
Having a passionate basketball discussion with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
Tell us about a memorable moment in undergrad or graduate school.
If you know me, you’d know I’m a huge basketball fan and have been a Laker fan my whole life. Like the Lakers, UCLA has a history of having all-time greats in the sport. So one day, the UCLA store announced an event where they would have Kareem Abdul-Jabbar visit and sign a few shirts. He is considered one of the greatest basketball players of all time and won multiple championships with the Lakers and at UCLA.
During the day of the event, I made sure to wake up early to be one of the first in line. I ended up being the 3rd person in line and I waited for around 5 hours before the start of the event. Luckily it felt like time flew by since I met a lot of new people while waiting, some of which ended up being good friends of mine in college. It was a memorable experience meeting Kareem, since we talked about his time with the Lakers, his philosophy on basketball, and various other topics.
It was one of my favorite memories in college and was definitely worth the long wait.
What is ONE THING YOU DID TO HELP TRANSITION TO YOUR FIRST YEAR OUT OF COLLEGE?
Picture I took of the Chateau Frontenac, which is in the historic neighborhood of Old Quebec.
One thing that helped me in my first year of work was understanding the need to take time off. Ever since community college, I worked very hard and never took time off to enjoy my successes.
Once I started working, I kept the same mentality of continuously working without a true break. My manager eventually encouraged me to take time off since it was getting to the point where my vacation hours were accumulating and were close to the cap.
My first vacation out of the country was visiting Quebec, Canada during winter 2022. I split my stay between my uncle and my grandma. It was the first time I had visited since I was born. It was a humbling experience to visit places where my family lived and learning about their experiences when they first arrived in the country.
Behind me is structure B1-1 within the Tazumal archaeological site. This is in Chalchuapa, Santa Ana, El Salvador.
In summer of 2023, I visited El Salvador for the first time and I was able to visit the houses of where my parents lived growing up. Again, it was nice to visit areas that meant a lot to my family. I was also able to meet new family members and enjoyed visiting culturally significant locations.
As Cooke Scholars and Alums, we are all high achieving, but it’s important to take time for yourself and enjoy your hard work. Traveling allows me to reset and become more productive in the long-term.
What was the last show you watched that you really enjoyed and highly recommended?
One show that I recently re-watched and highly recommend is Mr. Robot. It’s about a computer hacker who attempts to take down a large conglomerate. Although the story would seem like it appeals to a certain demographic, the series touches on complex topics, such as mental health, politics, and corporate greed. The story has a lot of surprising turns and is well-written. I would really encourage people to check it out!
If you were to create your own cookie, what would it consist of and what name would you give it?
I’m a huge fan of sweets and chocolate. I would make a cookie with a chocolate base, vanilla chips, and caramel drizzle. I’d call it Billionaire Brownie since it would be rich and chocolatey!