In high school, I was an overly-committed student, all in the name of boosting my college chances. I volunteered with the Kiwanis group every weekend for hundreds of hours. I participated in the marching band, sang in the choir, and was even in the school musical! I took AP courses and seven classes as a Senior when others took five. On paper, I was a well-rounded college applicant.
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        In reality, I was a young student navigating higher education independently with no guidance from counselors or family. My Mom only completed third grade, and my Dad didn't finish high school. By the time I was eight, I had to stop asking for help with school work. My high school was highly competitive, with many college-bound students. Counselors could not keep on top of all of us. I was fortunate enough to figure out on my own how to apply to college and accepting admission to San Diego State University (SDSU)! In my quest to attend college, my Senior year, I took a Calculus course to make myself a more appealing applicant. Algebra I could do, Calculus was over my head. I struggled with the course, and at some point, I gave up. I planned to graduate and move on to college. I didn't need Calculus to graduate and I was already on my way to SDSU.
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        One month before moving to San Diego to start my Freshmen year, I received a letter from San Diego State University revoking my admission. I had not fulfilled all the classes I had promised when I applied. My failure in that Calculus class completely derailed my entire college plan. At that point, I was no longer a college-bound student. I had never considered Community College in my life; I thought myself better. Today, I am eternally grateful for the California Community College system for providing me a way to pivot my college pathway in a time when I lost myself. In true California style, I went to school at the beach! I attended Golden West Community College in Huntington Beach and later transferred to California State University, Long Beach (CSULB). By no means did my journey become easier once I pivoted; it was still rocky at best, but I was able to graduate CSULB with a Bachelor in Science in Hospitality Management emphasizing in Event Planning.
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        I am the Event Coordinator at Orange Coast Community College in Costa Mesa, CA. I work under the Culinary Arts instructional program, assisting with teaching students skills in designing and planning events from start to finish. In addition, I help to plan large campus events such as Commencement, Art Gallery Openings, and Scholarship Honor's Night. I love working with community college students. They come from all walks of life, from bright-eyed 18-year-olds to retirees returning to the classroom for the first time in decades. Community college students are some of the smartest, most innovative people that I know, and I could not be prouder to help them achieve their success in their chosen career or education. My goal is to assist students achieve their idea of success inside and outside of the classroom by being an advocate for their needs and being a partner in their educational journey. Through MSHE, I will gain the knowledge and skills to help my future students reach their idea of success!

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          In addition, to my career aspirations, I am here to help you! How can I help you reach your goals? Take a look around the website and you'll find many tips and tricks for students, new entry-level professionals and seasoned professionals. Learn from my wins and losses and see all the ways we can innovate together!