EOPS Student Spotlight

I came from an abusive home with an alcoholic parent, and as a result, I also grew up like my parent, developing an issue with alcohol and substance abuse. What brought me to East Los Angeles College was the end of a 12-year abusive marriage that ended in the loss of parental custody of my two younger children. During my road to recovery, and after completing a residential treatment program, I decided to do everything I needed to become the parent I always wanted for myself. Since that day in 2014, I regained custody of my two young children, and have stayed actively involved in the twelve steps of Alcoholic Anonymous. My kids and I have been healing through therapy sessions ever since. Most importantly I decided to embark on my educational journey.

Coming back to school as a thirty-eight-year-old was anything but easy. I had to start from the bottom up. When I began at East Los Angeles College I came in with the mentality that I was going to try it out. Along my educational journey I have meet supporting professors and staff that helped me believe in myself. I am proud to say that Spring 2018 was my last semester at East Los Angeles College, I graduated in June, something I never imagined. Where I come from people like me don’t usually make it this far. Not only did I graduate in June, but I will be transferring to a four-year University, UC Berkeley for Fall 2018. My children and I are excited to see where the future will lead us. This will be the start of a positive change that will propel my family's future.

My name is Juan Sandoval, as a single father of 3 children; Bryan, Jasmine & Kimberly. Growing up as a young man in a family of seven, I was expected to graduate from high school and get a job, so I did just that. I worked at Office Depot for 20 years, and achieved great levels of success, but during the recent recession I lost my job. With a family to support, it became very difficult, so I decided to go back to school and that is how I ended up at ELAC. I enrolled and have participated in the EOPS/CARE Programs and Cal-Works. With their assistance and guidance I have learned to once again become more self-sufficient, and I am getting closer to my goals of becoming a Nurse.

Currently, I hold a 3.385 gpa, and have received Certificates of Achievement from both CARE and Cal-Works. In addition, I have also received two Associates Degrees in General Studies; one in Social and Behavioral Science and the other in Natural Science. I am also finishing up the pre-requisites for Nursing, and hope to join the program soon.

Even though it has not been easy, what keeps me going are my kids. The advice I have for you as CARE students is to never give up, take it one step at a time, set self-reminders, and most importantly involve your kids in the experience. I bring them on campus with me so they can see that daddy is going to college, and at home I have study sessions with them. Afterall, my achievements are also theirs.

Juan is also one of the Peer Advisors for the EOPS/CARE Program, so he can help answer questions and give you up to date information.