Summer — 2009

Jessica Gonzalez

Nursing

“It’s just something that I’ve always wanted to do. To get up every morning and feel that enthusiasm about getting to work, helping other people.”

“The best things about SMC are the professors, the diversity of the whole College, and the financial aid that’s available,” said Jessica Gonzalez, ticking off the list on her fingers. “My mom’s a single parent and doesn’t make a lot of money. Neither do I. So that aid money through the EOPS office is very important to us. Without that,” continues Jessica, “there’s just no way that I’d be able to go to college. And I’m very, very thankful.”

Jessica came to SMC because, she says, “My mom told me that it’s the Number One transfer school, so I knew that’s where I wanted to go, so I could eventually get to Cal State Long Beach. And when I graduate from SMC,” Jessica continues, “my counselor told me that that going the SMC/Cal-State-Long-Beach route pretty much guarantees a job at Long Beach Memorial Hospital.” Jessica says that SMC has provided her with every resource necessary—and not simply the medical or scientific sorts—to enable and encourage her goal of becoming a Registered Nurse.

“My counselor—Patti Del Valle—has been incredibly important to me. She helped me get the financial aid package that I needed, and she also advised me to get my GE and other requirements out of the way. She told me to get into the clubs and internships, too, so that my life would become one of pure learning. But my mom has also always been very strict about my education, and she always told me that it’s the best way up and out. For her,” Jessica continues, “I will soon be an RN at some great local hospital.”

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