Stephanie Lopez is a nontraditional student who believes in the power of education,
even after her first attempt at getting an education at a different community college
significantly challenged her confidence. Today she is attending California State University,
Dominguez Hills (CSUDH) as a business administration major after graduating with an
associate degree from Compton College in June 2025.“Earlier this year, I was having a discussion about education with peers where some were questioning why anyone would still choose to go to college these days,” she said. “My answer to that question is: without education, there would be no doctors to heal us, no engineers to build, no teachers to guide, and no voices empowered to speak up for justice. With education, we unlock everything. We gain tools to solve problems, to lift up our communities, to challenge injustice, and to dream bigger than the world we were born into.”
After initially attending community college prior to 2018, Lopez learned how important it is to select a college not only for its academic programs, but also for how it personally “fits” or matches aspects important to the student such as culture, campus size, support and resources offered, how faculty/staff interact with students, and social characteristics, to name a few.
While working full time as a receptionist at a company that manufactures precast concrete pavers, Lopez enrolled at Compton College part time, going at her own pace to set herself up for success. “I decided to attend Compton College because I like the environment there. The classes are smaller, so you get more personalized attention from instructors,” she said. “I wanted to attend a college where I felt truly seen and not treated as just a number. The faculty and staff are always looking out for students and provide solutions and resources to help them.”
Lopez says attending Compton College helped her build confidence and sense of belonging. “My first class at Compton College was an English class and the professor was very supportive and encouraging to every student. He opened my mind to a different way of thinking; he enabled us to express ourselves in a way that was comfortable for each student,” she said. “This made a huge difference for me from previous experiences in college, and I received my first A in that class! I knew Compton College was the right place for me.”
Lopez has an entrepreneurial spirit. In addition to her full-time job, she has a successful eyebrow grooming business that she has put on pause to attend CSUDH with plans to complete her bachelor’s degree in business administration in two years. She is particularly interested in participating in CSUDH’s Innovation Incubator program, which offers a variety of free and fee-based programs and courses, as well as sponsoring events to help create an entrepreneurial culture at the university. “I’ve had other businesses in the past, but sometimes felt it was hard to continue due to lack of resources or specific knowledge,” said Lopez. “I believe that more education and entrepreneurial programs like this will help me.” She plans to be a business owner after she graduates from CSUDH.
She applies that innovative drive to her current work. She went from being a receptionist, at the concrete manufacturing company she has worked at for seven years, to being a digital marketer creating content for the company’s website and social media platforms. Two years ago, she pitched the idea of helping the company update its more traditional marketing efforts. They liked her ideas and gave her the green light to create a team that, in addition to online content creation, also markets the company’s products via tradeshows targeting architectural, design, and construction firms that have a need for these products.
She wants other students in similar situations to know that “you and I belong in higher education spaces.” Lopez’ advice to anyone thinking about attending Compton College is: “You won’t regret it. Use every resource available to you. Stay organized, speak up, and don’t be afraid to ask questions and seek help from faculty and staff.”
