Counselor

“SMC keeps really good track of its EOPS students. There’s a lot of support here that makes them feel like college is a second home. I came from EOPS myself, so I know.”

Phones were being connected, files were getting organized, and Beatriz Magallon was caught up in the whirlwind of her arrival at SMC. “But I definitely feel like I’ve got my feet under me,” she says. “I’m so excited to be here at SMC because of the diversity of the students, their ages, and their backgrounds. It’s a wonderful mix.”

For Beatriz, counseling in EOPS is far more than a job: It’s a continuation of her own life. “I really know the ropes here because EOPS allowed me to become the first member of my family to go to college. I never thought I’d have a college education, but I made it!” she says with a satisfied laugh. “So for me, this is the perfect program, one where I can help students with low income or who haven’t been successful in high school. And those who come to us will find that we’ll be with them every step of the way. When young people haven’t learned all the skills they need to make successful plans for college,” she adds, “they need our help so that they meet deadlines and make the most they possibly can out of college.”

One unique program at SMC had Beatriz distinctly excited about enlisting new generations of students. “Our RBI Program was funded—to the tune of one million dollars—by Kevin Brown of the Dodgers. And what we’re doing is teaching study skills in the high schools to inner city ball players who may end up—aside from being better students—as professional athletes. It’s this kind of strong tie that SMC has with the community that makes me feel so proud of what we’re doing.”

SMC EOPS Counselor Beatriz Magallon began full-time at SMC in Fall ’99. Welcome!

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