What is your hometown? Baldwin Park CA
What colleges did you attend? Degrees earned? Mt. San Antonio College-AA-T Psychology
Arizona State University
Cal State Fullerton- B.A. Psychology
What motivated you to go to college? I knew that I wanted to help others that were like me and I knew that colleges/universities were not made for us, I wanted to be one of the ones to break that cycle and make a statement that were here, were present and we are not going anywhere!
Describe your college experience as first-generation. My first generation experience was rocky at first, well I mean it still is. I had to figure out how to navigate everything on my own. Everything felt so foreign and I could not shake the feeling of being lonely, lost and as if I didn't belong there but then I started reaching out and registering for different resources and that has helped me throughout my, educational trajectory.
What unique challenges did you face? It has been difficult to balance out being a student, a partner, a friend, a daughter and all the different roles that I have in my life. It has also been difficult to figure out the transfer process and to internally overcome the fact that I did belong in these institutions.
How did you overcome those challenges? I worked hard to not only complete my commitments but also to make sure I learned what was time management and how I can execute it. I have always been organized for the most part and so Google Calendar became my best friend. I have a full whiteboard calendar, I had google calendar and I had a daily calendar. I know it may seem like a lot but this helped me keep myself on track.
What did you advise other first-generation students? Do not give up. You will get overwhelmed, it is going to seem like a lot and frankly you will get over it many times. HOWEVER, DO NOT GIVE UP! It is worth it, all the stress and tears are worth it because you will get to a point were you feel fulfilled because you will be doing with what you love. Another advice I would give is to find resources, theres a lot out there, network and find your space because it is important to have a mentor, and have someone you can fall back on when you need it.
