My name is Leana Gonzalez. I am 32, born and raised in Las Vegas, Nevada. I am of Italian and Puerto Rican heritage. Neither of my parents graduated from college, although both instilled the importance of education from a very young age. I graduated from high school in 2012 but did not start college until 2022. The main reason it took me 10 years to finally pursue higher education was due to financial constraints and a lack of guidance. I have always loved education and dreamed of pursing a degree, but I was afraid it was attainable due to my economic status. Without having any family members who had gone to college, I did not know where to begin or what steps to take. Growing up in a low income household made me reluctant to get myself into debt in search of a degree. My understanding of college and financial aid was very minimal at first. After I did extensive research, I learned more about grants, scholarships, and other ways of paying for college outside of student loans. While I had already worked in hospitality for many years prior to starting college, I knew I would need to maintain an income even while I studied full time. I have kept part and/or full-time employment for my entire undergraduate career thus far. It has been immensely challenging trying to juggle study life, home life, and a career outside of my degree. Many weeks I have had no days off, and at times the stress became overwhelming. I have spent many days working from 7am-4pm, and then heading to school from 5pm-10pm-- just to do it all again the next day. While this certainly did not come without it's obstacles, it was/is possible. I try to express that to those around me as much as I possibly can. I never realized how many people were in the same position as me until I started sharing my journey with those around me. Without my family as a support system, I don't think I would have been able to get through it. They may not have had the experience to guide me through the college application process, but they gave me so much love and support that fueled me through 3 years, 82 undergraduate credits, and an Associate of Science in Dental Hygiene degree. I am now working on my Bachelor's in Dental Hygiene, expecting to graduate in 2028. These challenges have made me more resilient and more confident that I can overcome any of life's obstacles that may come my way. It can be easy to fall victim to your circumstances, but I want to help others realize they can also achieve their dreams thorough resilience and dedication.

I graduated from high school in 2012 but did not start college until 2022. The main reason it took me 10 years to finally pursue higher education was due to financial constraints. I have always loved education and dreamed of pursing a degree, but I was afraid it was attainable. Growing up in a low income household made me reluctant to get myself into debt in search of a degree. My understanding of college and financial aid was very minimal at first. After I did extensive research, I learned more about grants, scholarships, and other ways of paying for college outside of student loans. While I had already worked in hospitality for many years prior to starting college, I knew I would need to maintain an income even while I studied full time. I have kept part and/or full-time employment for my entire undergraduate career thus far. It has been immensely challenging trying to juggle study life, home life, and a career outside of my degree. Many weeks I have had no days off, and at times the stress became overwhelming. I have spent many days working from 7am-4pm, and then heading to school from 5pm-10pm-- just to do it all again the next day. While this was hard, the most challenging aspect has been making time for family life outside of work and school. My father suffered from cancer for many years and I was his main caretaker while also working and going to school. Managing my time efficiently enough to allow for his medical appointments and other errands, while still being a good employee and 4.0 student, did not come without great challenges. The emotional toll of wanting my father to be okay was far worse than any loss in free-time or lack of sleep. Thankfully, he and my family constantly showed me love and support in return all throughout this process until we sadly lost my father this April. Without this support system, I don't think I would have been able to get through it. These challenges have made me more resilient and more confident that I can overcome any of life's obstacles that may come my way. Instead of dreading work when I already have enough on my plate academically, I remind myself how grateful I am. I have a wonderful job that I enjoy and that allows me to care for myself, my family, and fund a portion of my education.