May 2025 What DOES GRADUATION MEAN TO ME? Estefani Gordillo

The first time I was asked, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” I didn’t answer because I was so unsure how my future would unfold. I always had good grades because I didn’t want to disappoint myself, knowing I had the opportunity to do more than my hard-working siblings, only because I was born in this country and they were not. Also, my mom would have whooped my butt if I had failed. I soon saw myself on a distant road from my educational path, and my life did not have that connection with school as it once did. After getting back on track, I decided to keep on going and not give up on my education despite my life circumstances. I graduated from my home studies school, which counted as my high school credits, and from one day to another, I became a Reedley College student. 

  I knew my plan was not to become a teacher or a police officer, although much respect to them both. You know what they say. You can’t be interested in something you never experienced yourself. When my life was starting to take a powerful turn at the beginning of college, I understood that I wanted to be the one to give out a message to those teens who struggled with what I had struggled with. I suddenly understood where my passion for journaling and writing came from. It was my way of dealing with life. My coping mechanism to draw me away from the negativity of the world. This is why I am a psychology major. My plan is to become a Substance Abuse Counselor and earn my Masters’ Degree in Addiction Counseling. I am honored to be graduating with my Associate's Degree from Reedley College, and I will be transferring to Fresno State University, where I will continue my wonderful journey towards my goal. 

Reedley College has been a home to me. Not because of the walls of these buildings, but because of the people and the bonds I have made. My former English 1A instructor became like another mother to me and I cannot thank her enough for the motivation given to me to keep going, despite my life being at a rough stage in life. My supervisor became a friend and support throughout my growth. A few other staff members have given me advice I didn’t think I needed to hear. I encountered someone my age I could finally call a friend and our bond has grown stronger by the day. In other words, this college is my home. I cannot thank the college community enough for the deep concern and motivation they have given me day by day. For those who are in this lovely community and might feel lost in their education, I highly encourage everyone to remind themselves why they are in college. We are human and at the end of the day, college or no college, we will go through certain things in life that will make us feel as if college is in our way. College will never be in the way. We are our own limit. Graduation is about learning who we are and why we want to be what we are.

The best thing about learning for ourselves is that nobody can take that away from us.