Maricela Pineda

First-generation college student Maricela Pineda has personal reasons for majoring in bilingual education -- her daughters. The TCC student wants a path to higher education for them and other Hispanic girls. 

"As a mother, I believe my daughters deserve the opportunity to pursue their dreams," said Pineda, whose daughters are 16 and 9. She also has a 5-year-old son.

Pineda said her community does not place enough emphasis on educating girls. "I want to be an example for them and break those cultural barriers. I think that being a bilingual teacher would be the most effective way to reach these new generations of children and parents," she said. 

Recently, Pineda received the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute scholarship and attended the CHCI Public Policy Conference in Washington, D.C., where she was presented a laptop for school and heard President Barack Obama discuss the importance of education. 

The now-confident Pineda is quite different from the frightened, discouraged, confused student who wandered around South Campus last year trying to enroll in classes.

She credits TCC's South Campus STARS and TRIO programs, federally funded initiatives for disadvantaged students, with building her confidence. She is also a graduate of Women in New Roles, which mentors women returning to college. 

Pineda, a returning student who graduated more than a decade ago from an alternative school, also values the support of her family and said she knows her children are learning from her efforts. 

"I know this transition has impacted them. They can see how hard it is to earn a degree when you have a lot of responsibilities," said Pineda, a full-time student, mother, wife and community volunteer. 

"Overall they believe that we can earn this degree together as a team to help others to enjoy this great opportunity."

- By Rita L.B. Parson