Earning my AA degree at Mount Tamalpais College is the culmination of everything I’ve ever worked to do. Since I was young, my parents instilled in me that I’d need to work for my college degree and everything beyond it. Working and going to college was an expectation I had for myself.

My college experience has changed me immensely. My goals for the rest of my life are laid out differently now.

I faced some challenges throughout this journey—specifically, learning new approaches to math and understanding new definitions and uses of the English language. My health issues also made learning difficult, but I pushed through, and my goals only grew larger. These challenges pushed me to grow as a student and a person. Some of the most meaningful moments of my time at MTC came from interactions with new people, places, and experiences. I was incredibly impressed by the people who learned alongside me and the connections we built as a community.

Now that I have completed my AA degree, I am looking forward to continuing my education, including my Bachelor’s degree, and after that, a Master’s and even a PhD.