"I graduated from San Jose State University with a BA and started working at the Santa Clara County Office of Education. Six months later, I accepted a job at Mission College, where I have the opportunity to interact and connect with students who come from diverse backgrounds."
"Learning to honor my intersectional lived experiences, continuously engaging in critical self-reflection, and operating from my identified core values (i.e., respect, transparency, integrity, and authenticity) is my success story."
"My journey included the many typical educational paths: that of the immigrant student fighting to assimilate, the disgruntled student rebelling against cultural pressures and expectations, the driven student pursuing education as a means to a better life."
"My advice to new students is to never be afraid to ask for help. It can feel intimidating to ask but had I not been brave enough to ask for help, I would not be where I am today. I love my career as a counselor and instructor, and I am more financially stable than I was before I received a college