Veronica Hand, Counselor Faculty (Puente)
Veronica Hand's Success Story
Counselor of Puente
"My advice to new students is to never be afraid to ask for help. It can feel intimidating to ask but had I not been brave enough to ask for help, I would not be where I am today. I love my career as a counselor and instructor, and I am more financially stable than I was before I received a college education. Now I get to thank my parents and pay them back for everything they have sacrificed for me."
Early Life and the Importance of Education
The importance of education was always instilled in me growing up. My mom encouraged
me to pursue my dreams and always supported me.
Despite having a positive outlook on the value of education growing up, I faced difficult
times with my family. In the upheaval of losing our home, facing homelessness, and
seeing my parents struggle mentally and emotionally while trying to keep us afloat…the
thought of going to college was not important anymore.
It was difficult to have to balance school and life and throughout my high school years, I worried a lot which caused me to have anxiety. My high school didn’t really have any support programs or college access programs to help me through it. Mental health wasn’t really talked about much either at the time.
The Support of the EOPS Program
After graduation, I decided to enroll into community college (not Mission College). I ended up dropping out my first year due to personal issues and not feeling that I had enough support to keep plodding through. Summer 2016 - I enrolled into Mission College and took an Early Child Development class. Instantly, I felt the sense of belonging and support through my professor and my classmates. I was actually excited to go to college. I still faced challenges during my time at Mission College.
I went to school full time but also had to work full time in order to pay my bills and survive. I was living away from my family and had to support myself from the age of 18.
Early Involvement in Puente Program
Growing up my father always told me that he wanted me to go to college so I could have more opportunities in life. He worked as a landscaper and told me many stories about how his employers treated him unfairly and how his landscaping work caused him lifelong injuries.
My mother also encouraged me to pursue a higher education. She had started college but due to a disability she was unable to finish pursuing her career goals. My family wanted something different for me and pursuing college was at first just a way for me to make them proud of me.
Although I was the first in my family to go to college and there were some personal and financial challenges I had to face, I was also incredibly lucky to receive support from the Puente program in high school.
The Power of Mentorship
In the program I met my counselor who became a mentor for me. In addition, I was paired up with another mentor who I still keep in touch with. I have also stayed connected with many of the students I was in the program with. The program changed my life, which is why I am so proud to be the Co-Coordinator and counselor of the Puente program at Mission College.
The journey through college was not always easy. I had no health insurance, I was a caretaker to my mother from an early age, and I often helped my parents with business, medical and legal documents. However, what I found out is that there are many programs and resources that can make college a little easier. I joined programs such as Puente and TRIO and I am where I am today because of these programs.
My advice to new students is to never be afraid to ask for help. It can feel intimidating to ask but had I not been brave enough to ask for help, I would not be where I am today. I love my career as a counselor and instructor, and I am more financially stable than I was before I received a college education. Now I get to thank my parents and pay them back for everything they have sacrificed for me.