I first started my college career here at Santa Monica College in 2009. I was an eager 20-year-old, full of dreams and excitement for the possibilities ahead. But life, as it often does, had other plans. Being part of a big family, I became a caretaker to several elderly relatives at a young age. The stress of those responsibilities weighed heavily, and I found myself unable to keep up academically. Dropped classes turned into failed grades, and eventually, academic and progress probation led to my disqualification. I felt like I had let everyone down, including myself. I took time off, earned my esthetician license, and focused on working. And then, in February 2023, just after the birth of my second daughter, something inside me reignited. I decided I couldn’t let my story end there. I wanted to prove to my daughters—ages 7 and 2—that I wasn’t a statistic. That I was more than my setbacks, and that with courage and hard work, I could rewrite my narrative.
I reapplied to Santa Monica College and made a promise: If they let me back in, I would give it everything I had. And I kept that promise. Not only did I get off academic and progress probation, but I also raised my GPA to 3.188. I even made the Dean’s List for both Spring and Fall of 2024. And now, I’m thrilled to share that I am graduating with 2 associates degrees and I’ve been accepted into Cal State Los Angeles for Fall 2025, where I’ll pursue my Bachelor’s in International Business with dreams of earning my Master’s degree someday.
This journey has been transformative, not just academically but personally. I faced fears I never thought I’d overcome. For example, I took on subjects like Finite Math, Statistics, and Economics—classes I once believed were beyond my reach—and found joy in learning them. I even learned how to swim, something I’d long been afraid to do. Going back to school taught me resilience, courage, and self-belief. But most importantly, it has allowed me to be a role model for my two daughters, showing them that vulnerability and determination go hand in hand.
The counselors in the CALWORKS dept helped me so much. They held me accountable, helped me get supplies for school and made sure I knew and had all the resources available to make sure I could make my grades.
Audrey Sandoval that was a counselor in the CALWORKS dept. She retired after the winter session so she was not with me for my last semester but she was my 1st counselor when I came back to the school and honestly I couldn't have done it without her support.
Be your own cheerleader. Believe in the person you are becoming. And know that the limits we often see are the ones we place on ourselves. If I can stand here today, having come back to earn two degrees and transfer to a four-year university, I know that the sky is the limit for every single one of you.