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.