Celina grew up in Stockton, California. She is the third in a family of four children and is the first to go to college. Her parents, both from Oaxaca, Mexico, are maintenance workers. She struggled academically at Weston Ranch High School, but became a stellar student at Cal State LA with the help of EOP.
“I didn’t become aware of college until my senior year of high school. I didn’t think it was possible for me because no one in my family had gone to college before.
I noticed the struggles my mom was going through financially after the divorce. It was really hard not having enough, not being sure of our housing situation. How can I think of college when we’re having a hard time getting through the day?
My goal was to enter the workforce, get a minimum wage job and help my mom. Then I realized that’s only going to help us in the short term. I needed something that would help us in the long term to get us out of the situation.
My friend, she has been my best friend since 7th grade, she was applying to Stanislaus State and she asked if I was going to apply. My grades were not good in high school, but she said any CSU would be fine. She guided me through the application.
I had no idea what I wanted to do. I took a survey online that tells you what to major in based on your personality. The survey said sociology for me. I declared a sociology major and I like it.
When I started here I was taking remedial courses. I’m glad I took them because I learned a lot and wanting to get out of those classes made me do well in other classes. I have a 3.89 GPA and am part of the Honors College. It feels good, especially when other professors notice, when other students notice.
EOP offered me workshops my freshman year. When I took college algebra, they offered workshops that were really helpful. They helped me to stay focused and avoid procrastinating. If I wasn’t in EOP, it would be harder financially to stay here. They offered me the EOP grant and a connection to other things.
In high school, the problem was too many distractions. My grades are good here because there are no distractions in front of me anymore.
I want to go to law school. My EOP counselor said, ‘I think you can do something as big a Harvard and Columbia.’ Having people tell me that feels good because I never thought I would be able to achieve something that great.
It makes me feel good to have others talk about my work and it makes me feel proud of myself too.”