Crossings TV Asian Television – Home to Asian Americans
By: Princess Johanna Eusantos, California Community College Graduate
October is Filipino American History Month, an important celebration for the Filipino community that honors the rich history, culture, and contributions of Filipino Americans. As a proud Filipina, taking the time to reflect and celebrate the trailblazers who came before me is important because it provides a guiding light around the opportunities I have to make my mark in history.
Outside the U.S., America is still seen as the land of unlimited opportunities for those willing to work hard. This is especially true for me, a child immigrant who grew up in California and was raised to work hard to achieve the American Dream. As a student, my job was to study hard and do well in school. My high school experience consisted of AP courses, school clubs, community volunteer projects and even college courses—all designed to give me the strongest college application possible. Despite getting into some great universities, I found the high costs of attending these schools daunting. After reviewing all my options, I chose to attend my local California community college—and it was the best decision I could have made.
As a San Mateo resident, I was able to attend Skyline College for free while living at home, which would have cost over $40,000 between tuition and housing fees had I left home to attend a four-year college straight out of high school. In addition to having zero tuition costs, the support system at Skyline was unbelievable, changing my academic journey into something more enriching and meaningful, opening the door to experiences and opportunities that I didn’t even know were possible.
Offering smaller classroom sizes and a strong community, I was able to work directly with my college’s faculty and staff to build out my educational journey. I had amazing college professors and advisors who saw my potential and became my mentors, providing me with invaluable support and guidance that helped me secure a summer internship at Johns Hopkins Medical School in Baltimore. That internship paved the way for me to become an undergraduate researcher at Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, an enriching experience that was worth adding an additional year to my studies at Skyline. These experiences, coupled with my good grades, helped me become a finalist for the Jack Kent Cooke Scholarship Foundation and secure a spot at my dream college—UCLA—where I will earn my bachelor’s degree on a full-ride scholarship!
My experience has taught me that there are many pathways students can take to achieve their goals. No student should ever feel forced to “settle” when there are so many options available that can get them to where they want to be—and if they are like me, that may mean their local community college.
Community colleges provide students with a high-quality higher education that is guaranteed to transfer to a four-year college or university for those who want a bachelor’s degree. For students looking to enter the workforce first, there are over 200 career education programs that can be completed in two years or less, providing the education, certification or licensing, and skills students need to enter their career of choice. These can be lucrative career options, such as becoming a nurse, electrician, mechanic, welder, graphic designer and more—and these opportunities are available to everyone.
For students who have to stay close to home, California Community Colleges now offer bachelor’s degrees at select community college campuses across the state, providing career-focused programs that allow students to earn their degree in in-demand fields right in their community! These are affordable, accredited bachelor’s degrees in a wide range of fields, including technology, research, healthcare, and more. My journey may not be the right path for everyone, but attending a community college can be a great choice. Everyone has a place at a California community college. So, if you have dreams, don’t give up—now is the time to make it a reality. You can get started by finding the closest campus near you at ICanGoToCollege.com.