Was there a point in which you realized you wanted to make a significant change in your life?

“After a traumatic event in my family’s life I had to move to Nevada. I stepped back and looked the situation and realized I needed to stop being the C student I was and focus on academia.”

How did you come to select Nevada State College after completing high school?

“Upon finishing high school I had a lot of options, but looking at all of the perks of the different schools by visiting them, I realized Nevada State was the school for me. Walking in to one of the classrooms I noticed there was a plaque on the wall that was their multicultural mission statement, which stated that no matter what race, religion or sexuality you are, you’re family and will not be discriminated against. Seeing that in every classroom really made me feel comfortable that this wasn’t something that they have in the fine print of the catalog, but was something in every class…you’re family and you’re welcomed.”

Describe the classroom experiences you had at NSC.

“At NSC, you’re very one-on-one with your instructors. They encourage you to place your life experiences into your papers and assignments. It was important because of the lifestyle I grew up with to be able to express myself in this way since I kept things inside before. I felt very safe sharing my life experiences with my professors.”

Through attaining your Bachelor’s degree, how did this impact not just you, but your entire family?

“When I graduated and got my degree, it wasn’t just my degree – it was my family’s degree. Prior to this, only one of my family members had graduated from high school When I did start college, I pushed my mom to start college, so as I was going to get my Bachelor’s degree, she was getting her Associate’s degree.?

How will you remember your graduation day?

“Graduation day was one of the most amazing experiences of my life. Seeing my family as I walked across the stage was a very emotional time and that is when I realized I have to keep on going. Me helping myself and creating my own path in life will help my family and better their lives.”

How would you describe NSC’s future and why someone would want to be a part of it?

“The future of NSC is infinite. There are over 500 acres of possibility – its just an amazing campus. There is no question as to whether you should come here or not…the only question is if you want to be somewhere where you feel like family because you are considered part of a family at Nevada State College.”