“I decided to attend Compton College because motherhood completely shifted my perspective,”
said Araseli Galvez, a wife, mom, and nontraditional Compton College student. “Now,
I believe that because of my education, my son will have better opportunities in life.
I want to set a positive example of resilience. I want to show him, and others, there
are no limits. We are often afraid of trying something new, but that doesn’t mean
it is not possible.”A few years before deciding to enroll a Compton College in fall 2024, Galvez left a job where she “felt safe and important” to become a stay-at-home mom and she quickly realized her new role is one of the “hardest jobs” out there. She initially started college solely as an ESL student to gain better command of the language and has now decided to continue her higher education as a child development major. She also took a noncredit basic career training course that helped make the transition to for-credit classes much easier.
“I arrived at Compton College without any aspirations or plans because I didn’t believe in myself,” said Galvez. “Everything changed when I met my ESL instructor Brittany Olayele, who also became my mentor. She consistently goes the extra mile to motivate her students. She believed in me and more importantly, she helped me believe in myself.”
After more than a year at Compton College, Galvez has taken advantage of the many student resources offered and has found a rhythm helping her peers. “I believe having access to valuable resources like a computer and Wi-Fi hotspot loan, tutoring sessions, one free meal per day in the cafeteria, financial aid, and even campus workshops and events greatly inspired me to pursue and achieve my goals,” she said.
She is also a student worker in the Student Success Center on campus where she tutors other ESL students. “I’m happy to have the opportunity to help students who, like me, are striving to overcome challenges in life,” Galvez said. “I assist them with their homework and prepare activities to support subjects where they might be struggling. I also make them aware of available study resources and online tools so they can practice and study independently.”
Another important resource that Galvez says allowed her to feel more comfortable leaving her son during the day to focus on her studies is Compton College’s Child Development Center, which offers no- or low-cost childcare services to enrolled students. “For a mother, there is nothing more important than knowing your child is safe and close,” she said. “If it wasn’t for this childcare/preschool program, I couldn’t imagine being able to take the first step to attend college.”
Galvez says she decided to go to college because her aspirations are bigger than her fears; she is doing it for herself, and for her family. She hopes her story will inspire others in similar situations. “I want other women and mothers to learn how to find their path and that Compton College is a place that can help uncover possibilities for all students,” she said.
