As a kid, I was that person who couldn’t decide what I wanted to be when I grew up. One day, I’d want to be a teacher or a police officer. The next, depending on my mood, I might dream of becoming a hybrid of spy, cashier, artist, Spider-Man, photographer, and maybe even a member of the Pimp My Ride team (because who wouldn’t want to give cars epic makeovers?). Spoiler alert: no Pimp My Ride gig for me. But you know what? I ended up with the best job in the world- being an Oxnard College counselor. I get to work with the most resilient, talented, and kind-hearted students (that’s you!) and remind you every day that you have limitless potential to crush your educational and career goals.
If you’d asked me 10 years ago where I’d be today, "counselor" would have barely cracked my top 20 guesses. I immigrated to the U.S. at 9 and was a first-gen college student. College? It wasn’t a path anyone in my family had walked, so I had no idea what to expect. I went straight to CSUN to pursue a BA in Psychology because, well, that’s what everyone else was doing. I just applied and got in. Looking back, I wish I’d considered community college first. There were so many options I didn’t even know about! If I could do it all over again, I’d apply to UCLA, UC Riverside, Grambling State University, CSU Chico, CSU Channel Islands, and Cal Poly Humboldt — you get the idea. I kept my head down in college, working part-time at Baskin Robbins to make ends meet, but luckily, financial aid came through, and without it, I don’t know if I could have made it.
It wasn’t until my senior year at CSUN that I even considered a career in counseling. I loved psychology, but I didn’t see how it would translate into a career I loved. Therapy? Too emotionally draining. Corporate psychology? Too removed from real people. Then I saw what academic counselors do every day, and it clicked. That was my dream job all along- the perfect balance. I sought out counselors in the community college system who became my mentors, guiding me to where I am today.
Your time in college is for you to explore, experiment, and figure things out. You don’t have to have everything planned from day one. Even if you think you know what you want, college is the place to test those ideas, try out new ones, and dive into hands-on experiences. You’ll either fall even more in love with your chosen path or discover something else that excites you. But above all, use your resources. Oxnard College is here for you. I’m here for you. I’m cheering you on, every step of the way. Come see me during a counseling appointment, even if you’re not sure where to start. We’ll figure it out together.
My journey to and through my first years at a university did not come without its challenges. As a first-generation college student, navigating the ins and outs of college life was difficult, confusing, and oftentimes discouraging. I remember distinctly my first year of college wanting to drop out and heading to the counseling office to ask about withdrawing. It was that very day that a counselor took the time to help me see what I couldn't. The kindness and inspiration I felt that day and after, changed my life. I have worn many hats over my 17 years working in higher education at CLU, CSUCI, and now at Oxnard College. It is with deep appreciation that I try to pay forward the advocacy and careful guidance I received so many years ago. Our Oxnard College students are incredible and it's an honor to serve in this role and watch our students flourish in their educational/career pathways and make a difference in our community. I am inspired each and every day by our students, so proud to be a Condor!
When I'm not in the office, I enjoy plenty of outdoor time with my husband and our two growing boys who keep us on our toes! We also love to spend time with our extended family, and look forward to our summers at the beach.
