An accomplished soccer player and student, Alondra Herrera decided to attend MiraCosta College to gain experience in higher education while deciding which career path to pursue.

Today, she is preparing to take the next step in her academic career when she steps foot onto UC San Diego’s campus this fall.

“During high school, I didn’t really know where I wanted to go or what I wanted to study,” Alondra recalled. “I got accepted into a couple of universities but none of them got me excited. Instead, I decided to attend MiraCosta College because I knew it would give me a better chance to grow.”

While some questioned the value of community college over a university, Alondra knew she was gaining something special as soon as she enrolled.

“The individual support that MiraCosta counselors and professors offered me was critical to my success,” shared Alondra, who cited the PUENTE program as one of the key differentiators when talking about how much she has grown in such a short period.

Alondra continued, “PUENTE is more than just counseling and support. PUENTE allowed me to make friends with similar backgrounds, all while learning more about my own history and culture. From the early months on campus, to the past year when I navigated the college application process, everyone within PUENTE was instrumental to my success.”

PUENTE is a program designed to increase the number of Mexican American and Latinx students transferring to four-year colleges and universities. In addition to classes that help with the transition to college life, PUENTE provides students with a deeper understanding of Latinx culture and history.

As a first-generation college student, Alondra found value in the bridge that PUENTE created between her heritage and academic ambitions. The more she learned about her cultural history, the more Alondra realized the potential impact she can have on society, both through her academic and career pursuits.

Said Alondra, “Without question, the level of support and knowledge I received from PUENTE set me up for success and continues to pay dividends for my future.”

In addition to being a PUENTE scholar and student-athlete, Alondra spent countless hours at MiraCosta College helping and leading others. She served as President of M.E.Ch.A. (Movimiento Estudiantil Chicanx de Aztlán) a club on campus that promotes educación, cultura, and historia through self-awareness and cultural identity, as well as a Student Ambassador where she helped support the next generation of scholars.

If that wasn’t enough, Alondra was also recognized as one of only two students in the inaugural group at MiraCosta College who worked as paid interns through the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) National Internship Program. This prestigious, highly-competitive internship program allowed Alondra to gain valuable experience working for the Library of Congress, while continuing to strengthen the connection between her heritage and her career goals.

Today, as she prepares to take on a new challenge as a student at UC San Diego, Alondra is excited for the opportunities in front of her. This summer, she is working as an intern in the policy division for the United States Agency for International Development. At UC San Diego, Alondra will pursue a degree in Urban Studies and Planning and has her sights set on working in the public sector or launching her own nonprofit that allows her to build community and empower others in Oceanside and beyond.

“There’s a lot of inequality in our communities and I want to help change that for the better,” shared Alondra. “I believe I can have a positive impact on society and I know that PUENTE, M.E.Ch.A., and MiraCosta have all helped lay that foundation for me,” shared Alondra.