My higher education journey was not linear at all; it was cyclical, and it continues to be. In high school, I did not know what college was until very late, as a senior. My school was in tracks, and I was not on the college/honors/AP track at all. However, through a mentor who went to recruit at San Fernando High School, I took a chance at “college”. I attended 4 years of community college (did not do too well my first year), applied to UC’s, and was not accepted my first time to what became my dream school, UCLA, because of SITE and STEP. After completing STEP (2003), I was accepted to all the UC’s, including UCLA and Cal. I transferred into UCLA, completed two BAs, was exposed to graduate school programs, went out of state for an MEd at the University of Utah, trained by amazing critical scholars in CRT and feminisms, and made my way back to UCLA (double bruin) to begin and complete my PhD in Education.

CCCP changed my life, and it offered opportunity, vision, and direction! It led me towards this PhD in Education to get into the classroom to impact students that look like me, but also that look like the diverse student populations CCCP serves. The opportunity to be on campus is critical as it offered me more options to consider an education, but also lifelong connections to friends, mentors, professors, and much more. It granted me a vision for myself and others, it engulfed me in becoming a mentor/femtor in ways I did not know I had, and centered my gifts. It gave me a compass to move in ways that I had never imagined. These were gifts I did not need. As a result, I got to share these gifts with others as well. Lastly, it gave me familia!

Too many to name! I received multiple degrees in honor of my family and community. Working at Lu Valle and eating those amazing omelets and tater tots! I met my life partner at UCLA and continue to proudly build with him and our little familia. I became a parent as a doctoral student at UCLA, organized with a beautiful and fierce group of mothers birthing our children, but birthing Chicana M(other)work and Mothers of Color in Academia de UCLA. My chosen UCLA familia and I raised my son at the UCLA campus. I had the opportunity to bring my apá to campus, as it was a dream to break barriers of access and take him to the dining halls. Walking that stage with a PhD, hooded by Danny, while holding the hands of my son and my niece. Witnessing the multi-generations of our familia attaining those degrees at UCLA, like Rosie and Nedi. And, supporting the academic journeys of other chosen familia like Junior and Gio. Lastly, having my UCLA familia still working hard on campus every day!

It meant beauty, fierceness, resistance, and visibility. For my community, my family, and me.

I have the privilege of being a tenure-track professor of Chicana and Chicano Studies and Education at San José State University as a first-generation, Chicana Motherscholar.

It is transformational and transgenerational! It impacts multiple people throughout time. Had it not been for my CCCP peer mentors, Marina and Fernanda, I would not have had an opportunity to be who I am now. The impact is evolutionary!

CCCP has my heart! ♥️