CSUN | Gender and Women's Studies with a double minor in Queer Studies & American Indian Studies
I started my community college journey in 2008, right out of high school. I attended two different community colleges from 2008 through 2015, on and off. I took an eight-year break from college due to life getting in the way, and I was unsure if I wanted to continue. In the winter months of 2022, going into 2023, I decided to give college another try since I was older and wiser. I decided to attend Santa Monica College due to its reputation, especially when it comes to preparing students for transfer. I have been attending SMC since the Spring semester of 2023, and I will be graduating from SMC this semester and moving on to this next journey at CSUN as a 36-year-old transfer student.
SMC has helped me not only find myself but has also allowed me to become more active at the college. I have worked in several different departments here at SMC since the Fall 2023 semester. I have also been an active member of the Gender Sexuality Alliance since the Fall 2023 semester.
SMC helped me figure out which university I wanted to transfer to and what major I wanted to pursue when I transfer.
There are so many people I would love to shout out here at SMC that have helped me out along the way and have helped me get to the point of being able to transfer to CSUN. I would love to send a special shout-out to Valeria Garcia, Emily Chavez, and Aaron De La Torre for being three of the best bosses and my biggest advocates I could have ever asked for here at SMC. Also, a special shoutout to Yamissette Westerband for not only being a great professor and advisor for the GSA but also for being an amazing mentor, especially when it comes to majoring in Gender and Women's Studies.
Some words of advice: Don't ever give up on your dreams. You all are your biggest advocates.