First-Gen Student Jimena Morales-Dominguez Pursues Career to Help Others
Jimena Morales-Dominguez is a first-generation college student who grew up in Huntington
Park. Right after she graduated from high school, she moved to attend Cerritos College.
“That was the first choice in my life that I made for myself,” Jimena said.
Her first semester at Cerritos College in 2021 was fully online due to the pandemic. Jimena appreciates the helpful and knowledgeable staff at Cerritos College that guided her through the application, orientation, and counseling processes to streamline her education. When her first semester started, she felt like she was on her own with fully online classes and assignments. Over time, she discovered that the instructors were all very understanding and supportive. Jimena soon formed priceless connections with her teachers and classmates and now works on campus at EOPS on federal work-study.
Since she was in high school, she wanted to pursue a career where she could help people. Growing up in an immigrant family, she witnessed the challenges and obstacles that come with having a language barrier firsthand. As a child, she served to bridge the gap between her parents and others at places like stores, offices, or customer service by translating from Spanish to English and vice versa. “And I wanted to do that professionally,” said Jimena. With that goal in mind, the Spanish major will be transferring to either CSULB or UCLA in the fall.
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