I came to SMC at 24, having never gone to college. Up to that point, I believed the “college experience” wasn’t meant for me. I’d been on my own since my parents' divorce at 19, living alone and off unemployment checks during the pandemic. I moved to LA from Wichita, Kansas in 2022 and began at SMC in 2023. My experience has been life-changing—SMC gave me community, support, and resources I never imagined. Professors and counselors became mentors. I made friends in class and got involved, including creating videos with the SMC social media team—my way of giving back to a place that’s given me so much.
SMC became the canvas for a new chapter. My past gave me clarity on what I wanted from college. I frequented the Career Center, got accepted into the Snap Academies after my first year, and started building my network in Entertainment, Business, and Marketing. SMC helped me break into an industry that once felt out of reach.
When I started, I wasn’t sure how far I’d take my education. But I set my sights on USC, pursued an associate degree in Business and joined the Promo Pathway program. I took 24 units in Fall 2024, 9 in Winter, and 25 in Spring 2025. It pushed me past my limits—and prepared me to appeal my USC rejection. I graduated with 3 associate degrees and a 3.84 GPA. In July, I received my USC acceptance and a nearly full-ride scholarship. I’ll start at the Marshall School of Business in January 2026.
HUGE SHOUT OUT to Professor Ridgway Knight, and the Career Center’s Anne Marie Leahy and Esmeralda Martinez. Thank you Chris Baccus, Jenny Resnick, AJ Adelman, and Redelia Shaw. I’m grateful to every person who helped shape my journey.
To current and future students: time here is short. Use it wisely. Go beyond what’s asked. Push past limits. You are the author of your story—make it one worth telling.