What is your hometown? Pomona, CA
What colleges did you attend? Degrees earned? Mt. San Antonio College - AA-T Sociology,
AA-T Social Justice, AA-T Kinesiology
What motivated you to go to college? My motivation to go to college is my family, but especially my son. I wanted to make him proud. To show him that he has someone giving her all to create a better future for our family.
Describe your college experience as first-generation. My college experience was not very traditional. I went back to school 11 years after graduating high school. So, to say the least it was a completely new experience. I started working as a student ambassador and it helped me meet many people on campus and learn from them as well. Eventually, everything became easier with everyones help. If it wasn't for others guiding me I wouldn't have had an easy experience.
What unique challenges did you face? Being out of school for so long made me feel so old and out of place. I wasn't sure who to turn to and ask for help at the beginning. No one in my family graduated from college. I had to rely on my best friend to help me fill out my applications. She was pretty much as lost as me, only being a semester ahead of me at Mt Sac, but we applied to everything we thought would help us financially. I had other obligations, so having financial aid during my college time was a priority.
How did you overcome those challenges? A great part of overcoming these challenges was having people believe in me. My best friend helped me so much as well. She took her time to teach me how to use Canvas, how to register for classes, how to apply for grants and programs like ACES and EOPS. From them I had more resources and help to navigate college and my applications when it was time to transfer. Which was extremely helpful. Everything put together was how I overcame my obstacles.
What did you advise other first-generation students? Manage your time wisely. I know it's easier said than done, but make it a habit of managing your time. Also, take advantage of all the resources the campus has to offer. Apply for grants, scholarships and every program that you feel will help you make this process easier.
