May 25. 2004 :: No. 260
EOP Student Achieves Dream of College
Education
Christina Galindo of Pico Rivera was encouraged
to work hard and get a college education as a child, but when she
reached high school, as the child of a single parent, she began
to think that attending a university was beyond her reach.
But thanks to three special programs, including the
Educational
Opportunity Program — a statewide program to
assist students with limited financial resources — she will
be taking part in Cal State Fullerton’s 45th annual commencement
exercises on Saturday, May 29.
“My college years were definitely the best years
of my life,” says the high-achieving scholar, who is earning
a bachelor’s degree in business administration and has accepted
an accounting position that begins in the fall.
“I had been planning to go to a community college
because my family didn’t have a car, and it was close to home,”
says Galindo, remembering the path she traveled that helped her
achieve her dream of a college education. It was while attending
high school that she learned of the California Student Opportunity
and Access Program, a program that encourages students to consider
college and also offers mentors who guide students through the steps
to gain admittance to a university.
“My mentor pushed me to apply to three California
State University campuses. I followed her instructions and applied
to Long Beach, Los Angeles and Fullerton. I was accepted by all
of them but chose Fullerton because friends’ siblings recommended
it as a good school.”
The summer before attending Cal State Fullerton, Galindo
took part in the Career Preparation and Opportunities Program sponsored
by the city of Pico Rivera. “It is specifically for high school
graduates who have been accepted to college. It offers workshops
on how to prepare for college, get financial aid, how to avoid temptations,”
says Galindo, adding that students in the program worked on city
beautification projects and in various city offices, earning money
to aid them through their first year of college. She has continued
her involvement in the program and is now the one who shares her
college experiences.
But without EOP, the transition might have been much
different, notes Galindo. In addition to financial support, the
program offered tutoring and academic counseling with a mentor.
“My mentor, a graduate student, encouraged
me to take what I thought would be a tough major and was always
very supportive of my efforts. ”
Galindo, with a 3.68 GPA, has made the Dean’s
List every semester while at Cal State Fullerton and has worked
on campus since 2001. She is a member of the campus Accounting Society
and Beta Alpha Psi, a national scholastic and professional fraternity
for financial information students and professionals. This semester
she served as chair for the campus chapter’s “Meet the
Firms” job fair.
“Being a part of these organizations, taking
part in their activities, gave me a good foundation on what to expect
and how to succeed,” says Galindo. “When I entered college,
I thought that it was all about academics, but getting to know my
fellow students, my teachers and professionals in the field was
a great experience. It was really helpful in getting that first
job out of college.”
“In my 30 years of teaching, [Christina] definitely
ranks in the top 10 of all my students,” says Robert McCabe,
professor of accounting. “Amazingly, Christina is quite modest
about her accomplishments. With time, she may realize what a jewel
she has become.”
Media Contact: |
Pamela McLaren of Public Affairs
at 657-278-4852 or pmclaren@fullerton.edu |
|