What is your hometown? Pico Rivera

What colleges did you attend? Degrees earned? Citrus College A.A
Cal Poly Pomona- B.A.
Kings College, London M.A.

What motivated you to go to college? I was determined to have a career that I loved, and that didn’t feel like “work”. I knew I deserved more than feeling trapped in an office job with limited opportunities.

Describe your college experience as first-generation. My college experience was very difficult at first because I had no guidance or insight on how to navigate being responsible for my own education experience. It was intimidating to ask for help, and I didn’t know who to reach out to. It took me a few attempts to finally be successful in pursuing education at the community college level.

What unique challenges did you face? I was afraid to let my family down, so I kept my education anxiety to myself. One of my parent’s had a terminal illness and I didn’t want to be an additional burden. I was unsure of what classes to take and didn’t feel comfortable asking professors for help. I had to juggle multiple jobs while taking courses because my family was not in a financial position to be of help.

How did you overcome those challenges? I began to form friendships with other students in class and had discussions with them about their insights and experience. I met with a few academic counselors to find one who best “fit” with me.The real changing point came when I reached out to a professor who later became a mentor, helping guide me to make smart choices for my educational path.

What did you advise other first-generation students? Get involved in your school community. Force yourself to talk with classmates and get to know your professors. In doing so, you will not only make friends, but you’ll also have the support of like-minded individuals to cheer you on along the way!