For Ninja Kingly Friberg, Irvine Valley College (IVC) became the place where her passion for public service, law, and leadership took shape. This fall, she will transfer to UCLA after earning admission to Georgetown University, UC Berkeley, UC Irvine, and USC. While majoring in political science and philosophy and completing an associate degree in paralegal studies, Ninja discovered early what drives her ambitions.
"My interest in politics and the legal field came from an innate frustration I felt as a kid towards people who did not treat others with respect and dignity," she said. Since starting at IVC, I have been involved with the IVC Model United Nations team, which has led me on the path of international law," she said. "Getting to tackle a multitude of issues and diplomatically find a solution, with a foundational goal of helping others, has piqued my interest in the field."
Her dedication earned impressive recognition. Alongside her teammates, Ninja helped IVC receive Outstanding Delegation honors at four National Model United Nations conferences. She also earned Outstanding Position Paper honors at the national level, Outstanding Delegate honors at the state level, and the Exemplary Achievement Award at the Honors Transfer Council of California Research Symposium.
Leadership became another defining part of her IVC experience. She served as secretary and vice president of Model United Nations, led the Global Politics Club as president, and co-founded the IVC Democrats Club to connect students with internships, volunteer opportunities, and civic engagement.
"The club's mission is to mobilize students and provide opportunities for political engagement at both the local and national levels," she said. "Through this organization, we have connected dozens of students to internships and volunteer opportunities and created pathways for them to attend events, meet prominent figures in Orange County politics, and engage directly with elected officials. Building this club has been an incredibly fulfilling experience and one that I will greatly miss after I transfer."
Those experiences also helped her secure a position with the Orange County Board of Supervisors. After UCLA, Ninja plans to attend law school and hopes to pursue a Ph.D. alongside or after earning her Juris Doctor degree.
"I hope to become familiar with many kinds of law to find where I fit into the puzzle, whether that is in international law, human rights law, or an entirely third field," she said. "As of right now, I have an interest in pursuing a Ph.D. after or alongside my J.D., as IVC has helped me discover my passion for research and I would love to continue building on those skills in my professional career."