REBECCA GAYLOR

I am a first generation college student and computer science major, with an ultimate career goal of working as a software systems engineer with NASA. I started my educational journey at Valley College at age 25, after working two full-time jobs and an additional part-time job simultaneously for six years. Undoubtedly, that experience prepared me to be the thriving student I am today. I am married, work full-time plus go to school full-time. The plan is to transfer to either UCSD or UCLA in fall 2020. In the meantime, I am passionately enjoying my educational journey and chasing my dreams while maintaining a 3.89 GPA. The services and support I’ve received from EOPS have been instrumental to my academic success. When I first started college, I had no idea what I was doing. My counselor, Maribel, set me up on the path that I needed to on to be able to reach my goals in a timely manner, which is very important to me. Not only does EOPS help me with academic counseling and with paying for my books, but one day the counselor gave me a meal voucher that I could use at the cafeteria, and it happened to be on a day that I had no money to relieve my hunger. For a struggling low-income student like me, such a small deed can go such a long way! Needless to say, I am beyond grateful for the EOPS Program, and what it’s done for me and countless others.