Alumni Spotlight - Andrea Garibay

Andrea Garibay was the first person in her family to go to college. The college world was unfamiliar, and she had to figure everything out on her own. Now a Monroe High School counselor, she tells her students one of the greatest steps she took in high school was to participate in the Running Start program at EvCC’s East County Campus. She could attend high school, work part-time and take a variety of college classes in the evening – for free – all in Monroe. She saved money and time, graduated high school with a year’s worth of college credits, and ultimately earned her master’s degree early. Now she tells her students to take advantage of the services the East County Campus offers, set goals, and not to be afraid to try something new. 

Tell me a little bit about yourself. 
My family and my faith are truly the two most important things in my life that have motivated me to get through all obstacles. 

I have two younger brothers, with me being the oldest and the only girl. Both of my parents were born in Mexico so I identify very closely with my Mexican heritage. While my family was unfamiliar with the college world, my parents always told me I was going to college after high school and I didn't know different. It was what I was going to do because my parents believed in me. 

Because the college world was so unfamiliar to my family (extended family included) and me, I did go through many frustrations trying to figure everything out on my own. One of the greatest steps I took in high school was participating in the Running Start program through EvCC. Upon graduating from Monroe High School in 2007, I had already earned a year's worth of college credit. After high school, I became a Wildcat at Central Washington University and had a great time finding out what a college experience was like. 

I received my Bachelor degree in Sociology in 2010 with a minor in Legal Studies, then went straight to Seattle University to begin working on my master’s degree. It took me three years to earn my Master of Arts in Education with specialization in School Counseling. 

Through my program, I was able to come back and work in the community that I really grew up in. This included completing a three-month practicum at Park Place Middle School in Monroe and an entire school year of internship at Sultan High School. 

Luck was on my side of the court, and after graduating from Seattle University's school counseling program in 2013 as the only Latina in my cohort, I landed a job at Sultan High School. Knowing my goal was to serve the community in which I came from, my goal remained one day working at Monroe High School. The end of my second year at Sultan High School was really difficult because Monroe High School now had an opening for me. While it was hard leaving Sultan High School, I knew my dream of working at MHS was in my hands now and I just couldn't let it go. 

Now, I am working at Monroe High School as a school counselor, and while it has had its challenging moments, being able to work with my community makes me feel that I am definitely in the right place. Throughout my experiences I have faced depression and wanted to give up so many times, but those experiences are minimal to the happiness and satisfaction that I have in my life right now. 

There are many people who I have to thank for giving me opportunities and I hope they truly understand how grateful I am for them. I believe ALL have the right to opportunities to further enrich their lives, and I hope to always be a contributor to helping people reach their goals through my service as a school counselor.

What are your top three reasons for choosing to attend EvCC? 
My top three reasons for choosing EvCC were the variety of course offerings, the ability to take evening courses, and most important, the East County Campus. 

There are so many courses with learning experiences in which you encounter diverse cultures; including my own culture! Some of the most meaningful classes I took were Intro to Chicano Studies, The Holocaust in Literature, and Survey of Sociology. All of which led me to desperately wanting to further my studies in Sociology.

Why did you choose the East County Campus? 
I took most of my Running Start classes at the East County Campus. As a high school student with part-time high school in the morning and a part-time job in the day, it was really nice to be able to take EvCC classes in the evening, IN MONROE! This opportunity really allowed me to do it all and remain connected to my community, without spending money (that I didn't have) on gas.

What did you study at EvCC? 
I really only took college courses that would transfer to a university and would keep me on track for high school graduation. In total, I took 6 part-time quarters of classes at EvCC. This included Fall through Spring of 2005-2007.

What are you doing now? 
Right now, I am in my second school year as a high school counselor at Monroe High School with approximately 450 students on my caseload. Occasionally, I organize or participate in workshops for students and parents in both Spanish and English. 

My new goals include learning to play the piano and taking photography courses. Thanks to my career and my vacation time, I am able to work on a personal goal of mine that is traveling and seeing a tiny bit of the world, a tiny bit at a time. 

What advice do you have for your students who are the first in their family to go to college?
Things will get tough, things will get scary, but there are many great benefits that will come to you after the you reach your goals, so keep on trying and reaching out to your resources. There are many people who care out there and that are willing to help. Also, share. Share with the people closest to you because it probably means the world to them to see you reaching your goals. Share with your peers and siblings to be a model to those who are going to college after you.

How did your EvCC classes and the Running Start program prepare you for your current position? 
This program has allowed me to reach my career goal a lot faster than expected and have a smoother transition to my college experience at Central. Graduating from high school with having experienced college classes allowed me to already have the work ethic, writing skills, and maturity to be in a college setting... on my own, and without my family there.  

Graduating high school with a year's worth of college classes also allowed me to finish my time at CWU after only 3 years. Then, going into graduate school, I was one of the youngest students in my cohort at Seattle University. Essentially, I completed my master's degree at age 24 and reached my career goal at age 24. 

Who helped you succeed at EvCC? 
My instructors and professors are who truly helped me succeed through my time at EvCC. They helped me build the skills and work ethic of a college student. They were there for me when I needed additional support and really thought me how to really use email to communicate without being on the main campus.

Describe the best experience you had at EvCC. 
The best experience at EvCC was getting to know other people from my community, or nearby communities. I developed friendships and got the opportunity to hear the experiences of people who were further in their lives than I. It served as a career exploration for me to hear the variety of backgrounds that people were coming from and a motivation to continue on with my education.

Would you recommend the EvCC East County Campus and the Running Start program to your students at Monroe High School? 
There is usually a good group of students who are interested in the Running Start program. EvCC's East County Campus really serves as a great opportunity for my students because of the variety of courses and proximity. Some of my students have limited transportation and this opportunity makes Running Start possible for them. 

Both the Running Start program and EvCC's East County Campus are opportunities that I ensure my students are aware of. It worked for me and I know it could work for many of my students too.

What advice do you have for new students at EvCC's East County Campus? 
Take advantage of the services! Do not hesitate to ask for help because they have so much help and we need it! Ensure that you get involved and build connections. I hope you don't have to feel like giving up, but it you do, talk to someone there first. I am sure something can be worked out to help you through.

For new Running Start students, don't be afraid to try something new. You will learn about so many new things and have the opportunity to get really involved in great things. Try a club, organization, study groups, check out all of the events! You can always learn something new; you just have to let yourself try it.

What advice do you give your high school students about college? 
Going through college is an exciting, scary, and rewarding experience. Explore the different options that are out there for you and compare to what you want in life. Don't always go with where your friends are going, because you may be missing out on an even greater opportunity. 

Set goals for yourself, then figure out how to get there. For some students it is going to be going straight to a university, or community college, but for others that could mean a vocational school or certification program. Do not be the first person to limit yourself. Rather than limiting yourself, work on maximizing your potential.

Anything else you want to add? 
I am frustrated with so many things in our society and our individual perspectives, but this same frustration is huge in making me want a better community for the future leaders in our society; for my students; for my people; for my family. I am working on it and I know there are many others who are too. Si se puede!