Jacqueline Benitez Soars from The Falcon’s Nest
Jacqueline Benitez was raised by her grandmother due to her mother’s drug problems
and incarceration. By the time Jacqueline was in high school, her grandmother’s health
deteriorated and at one point, Jacqueline had to leave school to take care of the
grandmother around the clock.
She continued to take care of her grandmother after she enrolled at Cerritos College in 2019. When Jacqueline lost her grandmother in the summer of 2020, she also lost her place to live. Through the Falcon’s Nest, she was housed at Cerritos College’s housing unit for homeless students called The Village. Jacqueline started working as a CalFresh Outreach Assistant on campus when the College opened the Falcon’s Nest, helping fellow students in need with food assistance applications. “Thanks to the Falcon’s Nest and The Village, I was able to stay on track with my life and studies,” said Jacqueline.
Since then, things have come together for Jacqueline. The Child Development major now works at the College’s Child Development Center to gain experience in child care. Jacqueline successfully moved into an apartment through Section 8 housing assistance with the help of Falcon’s Nest and its housing partner Jovenes. Her child development permit is on its way. She graduated from the College in May and is transferring to Cal State Long Beach in the fall to further her education in child development, with a dream of one day opening her childcare business. Caring for others has always been, and will continue to be her passion after she leaves the “nest” to soar.
Stay Connected