Annie Gutierrez overcomes life’s obstacles to help put smiles on others
Growing up, Annie Gutierrez was always interested in art. After graduating from Lynwood
High School in 2016, she enrolled at Cerritos College to study animation and graphic
design. Three years into her studies in 2019, Annie was diagnosed with ovarian cancer,
which forced her to take a year-long break from college to focus on treatment. When
she returned to Cerritos College in the fall of 2020, everything shifted to online
due to the pandemic. Nonetheless, Annie still pursued her passion for animation and
graphic design.
In 2021, she had to put her education on hold again when a brain tumor was found on the left side of her cerebellum. The treatment process was very harsh and left Annie bedridden for months. Even simple tasks such as turning her body required assistance. Annie underwent surgery to remove the tumor, but unfortunately, the left side of her body still suffers from limited mobility due to the aftereffects of the tumor. After dedicating nearly two years to treatment and recovery, she returned to Cerritos College in 2023 with a new determination to pursue a career in the medical field. “The doctors and nurses who helped me greatly impacted my decision,” she said.
Annie changed her major to dental assisting and applied to the Student Accessibility Services (SAS) program, which assists students with disabilities and health challenges. She is grateful for the support and encouragement from her SAS counselors, Liz Page and Katarina Taylor. Annie worked hard and did not let her disability prevent her from achieving her educational goals. She received an associate degree in dental assisting only three semesters after returning to school. Annie represented the Class of 2024 as the student speaker at the college's Commencement ceremony.
Annie will participate in an internship at a dental office in the summer and continue to gain hands-on experience working with patients.
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