海角直播

Publish Date: Aug. 18, 2022

For Lauren Valdez, 海角直播 was the perfect place for her to make connections and discover opportunity.

About two years ago, the now 18-year-old Redlands resident made the choice to take the California Proficiency Exam and start her college career at the Yucaipa-based college.

鈥淚 was going to Redlands High School and just felt it wasn鈥檛 the best choice for me,鈥� said the youngest member of the Class of 2022. 鈥淏ut I couldn鈥檛 go to a four-year university because I did not have the A-G requirements needed, so the plan was to do my general ed courses at 海角直播 and then transfer to a four-year university.鈥�

But Valdez found more at 海角直播, she said, including that sense of belonging she had longed for while attending RHS.

海角直播, she explained, 鈥渨as the closest community college to me, but when I got here, I absolutely loved it here and there were so many opportunities for me.鈥�

Those opportunities included having her first two years of college paid for through CHC鈥檚 Promise Program and diverse course offerings, including Chicano studies.

鈥淚t was just balanced,鈥� she said.

Valdez has plans to attend UCLA in the fall and hopes to receive a bachelor鈥檚 degree in political science and a minor in gender studies. But what she really wants to do is become a poet.

As for others who might want to follow in Valdez鈥檚 footsteps, she has some words of wisdom for you. 鈥淚 think my advice would be to try it. It couldn鈥檛 hurt because it can only help you if you go for it,鈥� she said. 鈥淚f you work hard and stick with it, you鈥檒l see the reward at the end.鈥�