DIEGO ZAVALLOS

Deciding to go back to school is quite frightening, particularly for those who are first-generation in their family to attend college. It seems to be the case for many returning students, especially in the Bay Area. The thought of dealing with the cost of living, housing insecurities, and lack of academic resources far more exceeded the pros of getting an education. Nevertheless, going back to school has been by far the best decision I ever made. Thanks to EOPS, I was able to get the guidance and support needed to succeed at Canada. EOPS provided me with proper counseling and several academic resources that were essential to navigate the convoluted educational system. I have been fortunate to have the opportunity to immerse myself in Cañada's academic community. Thanks to my peers, educators, mentors, and staff, I learned that the only way to spread the wealth of education is by contributing to those who work day and night to support us, the STUDENTS. My desired to pay it forward led me to be part of the change. I can proudly say that I was an EOPS Advisory Board Student Representative, PTK President, Learning Center Student Assistant, BTO Peer Mentor, and I now have transferred to UC Berkeley. I will forever be grateful to have had the opportunity to be part of such an outstanding program with excellent staff that cares for the wellbeing of all students and their families. Don’t think about it twice and immerse yourself in the EOPS. You won’t regret it!