Liza Mejia is headed to UCLA

Publish Date: July 7, 2020

Liza Mejia, a 2019 graduate of Crafton Hills College, had the cards stacked against her as a single mother high-school dropout and first-generation college student. Mejia shares her story in hopes of encouraging other non-traditional learners to pursue a college degree.

“I never imagined that I’d attend a four-year college, especially not while raising and supporting a son,” said Mejia, who is transferring to UCLA in the fall. Three and a half years ago, Mejia suffered an alcohol and drug overdose. Waking up in ICU, Mejia recounts, The nurse said, “What are you going to do? You have a second chance.”

From that experience, Mejia committed to creating a better life for herself and her son. She enrolled at Crafton Hills College and credits the Extended Opportunity Programs and Services and University Transfer Center with helping her reach her goals.

There were several individuals across campus, including a custodian, who Mejia depended on for encouragement and help. “You never know the exact form in which support may come, but you know it when you feel it,” says Mejia. “Faculty and administration at Crafton were instrumental in helping me both realize my potential and achieve my goal of transferring. The president personally assisted me in some of the communications with four-year colleges, and Mariana, my transfer counselor, helped me see things in myself that I could not see.”

Mejia’s message to other student-parents and first-generation college students: “Getting to college won’t always be easy. It might not be as fast as you hoped. But keep going. It’s worth it.”

Source: https://hechingerreport.org/student-voice-i-never-imagined-that-id-attend-college/