First-generation immigrant Guillermina Garcia found her second family at Santa Ana College.
After her hardworking parents scrapped their dreams to continue their education when they could not hurdle over financial barriers, Garcia took rein.
“Their sacrifices became my motivation to seguir adelante and cultivate opportunities for myself,” she said. When her best friend informed her about the robust English program at Santa Ana College’s School of Continuing Education, she enrolled and was committed to mastering her English-language skills.
Crossing the commencement stage in 2019 with her high school diploma in hand, Garcia was equipped with the tools to navigate higher education and discover career opportunities she once thought were out of reach.
“Counselor Leo Pastrana, Professor Luz Rosario Cadenas Torrey, EOPS Counselor Maria Estrada and my counselor Alejandro Moreno inspired me to serve others while helping me grow in the field of psychology,” she said.
When Garcia’s father was severely ill, she had fought the urge to not abandon his side until he nudged her to continue pursuing her education. Garcia scurried to class feeling overwhelmed.
“Even though I couldn’t hold back my tears in class, my professor and classmates surrounded me with support,” she said. “That day, I realized my class was my second family.”
Three years later she earned her associate degree in psychology from Santa Ana College.
Steadily accomplishing one goal at a time, Garcia has mastered her English-speaking skills, built a personalized cleaning services business to employ immigrant women and next is aspiring to open her own mental health practice.
“Learning English has been transformative,” she said. “I can now communicate confidently with clients, make independent decisions and provide meaningful support, including translating for those in need.”
Her cleaning services business is designed to offer financial stability for immigrant women who are struggling to find balance amid the growing demands of motherhood, including spending quality family time, attending life milestone events and pursuing higher education for themselves.
Last year, Garcia graduated from UCI with a bachelor’s degree in psychological sciences and a minor in Spanish.
As the eldest daughter planning to enroll into a master’s program and afterwards pursuing
a
doctorate, she was struck with news of her mother’s cancer diagnosis.
Her mother’s stinging diagnosis spurred her to explore opportunities to empower vulnerable
communities, specifically single mothers and immigrant families under stress.
Garcia’s long-term vision is to earn a master’s degree in marriage and family therapy,
followed
by a doctorate focused on mental health support for immigrant communities. She hopes
to one
day open a practice that offers guidance, healing, and hope to those who need it most.
“My ultimate goal is to build both mental health and community support in tandem,
healing
hearts and building a safe and strong foundation for families,” Garcia said.
Climbing the ladder of success is attainable for nervous students who are hesitant
to return to
school.
“Education at Santa Ana College’s School of Continuing Education opens doors for students,
strengthens their minds and allows them to grow and support others,” Garcia said.
“The faculty
and staff there are a team that truly believes you can achieve your dreams even when
you take
one step at a time.”