Karla Flores

Student

“I feel good about myself because I’m on the right track in the right school. And I’d be here even if somebody didn’t take my picture.”

Karla Flores is, obviously, someone who likes to laugh. When asked why she chose to study at SMC, she paused for a moment before answering, “Oh, you know. It’s close to the beach…” But once she stopped laughing, she began to talk in a much more serious vein about where she’s going in life—and how her direction is unfolding at SMC.

“I’ve been working very hard to get into nursing, and next year I’ll be going to a technical school to get my AA. This will make me a Licensed Vocational Nurse, which means I’ll be a nurse’s assistant. And then I just plan to go on with college until I’m an RN. I’m working with handicapped people now,” she continues, “and I think that’s gong to be the area of medical care where I can do the most good. People who don’t have all the advantages of good health—like most of us have—need a lot of extra attention. And sometimes even an extra laugh or two.” But while healing—and humor—are two areas that Karla has flourished in, there’s another “area” of inquiry that she reports being surprised with at SMC.

“I like the diversity of the people at this campus a lot. But it’s really the teachers who make it great,” says Karla. “I’m studying—very deeply—the history of America and Mexico with Professor Ruiz. And there are a lot of books to read,” says Karla. “I’ve learned so much about these two countries: their Central American and European influences, and how we got to where we are today. He’s a great teacher,” Karla continues, “because we study the issues from a Mexican perspective. And you just feel a lot of power when you walk into a classroom and somebody knows exactly where you’re coming from.”

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