Then and Now

I was 15 when I started at SLCC as a concurrent enrollment student. A lot of people in my school advised me to go straight to the U of U, but SLCC was a better choice for me with its smaller campus size and transfer options. It was also a good opportunity for me to become acquainted with a diverse range of students from traditional and non-traditional backgrounds.

At SLCC, there were so many opportunities to learn and grow. I worked with TRIO and Una Mano Amiga (A Helping Hand) as a Mathematics tutor. I also started the first Latina Women in Math study group for working mothers who were balancing their studies, working, and raising their families. I was surrounded with strong resilient women who reminded me the importance of goal setting and following your dreams.

I went on to earn an undergraduate and a graduate degree in Social Work at the U of U and worked as a counselor at the Urban Indian Center. After joining the Oxford Consortium for Human Rights in Greece and the U.K as well as completing my Fulbright fellowship in Spain, I went on to pursue a PhD in this field at International Christian University as a Japanese Government (MEXT) Scholar.

"It is important to follow your instincts and choose the right starting point or environment for you."

Advice

My advice would be to trust your path and embrace opportunities to the fullest. There is a quote that encompasses this well: "You can never discover new oceans unless you have the courage to lose sight of the shore." It is important to follow your instincts and choose the right starting point or environment for you, as I did with SLCC. Thus, seek out opportunities for growth in every setting.