Karla Padron

Student

“I come from a family that doesn’t show much of their feelings. But I know they’re happy about what I’m doing,” says Karla Padron. “Mom is also in college, and I think we are both very proud of each other.” Seeing her own mother returning to school has just reinforced in Karla her belief in the importance of education in the lives of older women.

“In my work at the Women’s Center, I give women the information they need about all of the programs we make available to them. There’s help for single mothers and there’s tutoring,” she continues. “But what I like the most is to help our returning women students. Usually these are middle-aged women who got married, raised their families, and suddenly realized that they needed an education. And it’s not easy for them,” says Karla. “Often these women are a little ashamed and embarrassed—or they’re afraid of not being accepted. So we really give them support by walking them around campus, telling them how to make use of the school, and encouraging them in every way possible. Our message is, ‘Welcome back, women!’”

Karla’s plan is to get her MFCC “so I can provide empowerment to women and children. Right now I’m doing volunteer training for a domestic violence center here in Santa Monica, and I’m really getting involved. Soon, I’ll be working on the ‘hotline’ or with the kids of abusive parents. This is all involved in the work I hope to do as a counselor,” says Karla. “It’s a big process, and lifelong learning is something I feel is important beyond belief.”

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