Ever since Julia Villeda was little, she loved helping people.
“The feeling you get from supporting and caring for another person is so special,” shared Julia.
So it should come as no surprise that this powerful calling turned into a lifelong career in medicine. A calling that she is now hoping to ply in the U.S. after learning an entirely new language and completing her nursing degree.
Julia first stepped into the healthcare sector as a nurse in her home country of Guatemala. Her warm and welcoming personality quickly made her a favorite among her patients. And she relished the opportunity to care for each person as if they were her own family.
Years later, when it came time to move to the U.S., Julia knew there was no other career choice for her to pursue. The only challenge was that Julia spoke very little English. Which was something she knew she would need to change quickly if she wanted to get a job as a full-time nurse in San Diego.
That’s where MiraCosta College came into the picture.
Naturally, Julia was eager to find somewhere that could help her learn English, as well as navigate the complex processes and regulations within the nursing field in the U.S. One day, a friend mentioned something about the MiraCosta College ESL program. Julia’s friend raved about the professors and said it was the perfect place to learn a language. What’s more, Julia later learned that MiraCosta College also had a renowned nursing program on campus.
Driven by her life’s passion, Julia wasted no time. Starting in Level 4 ESL, Julia took multiple classes simultaneously, including speaking, writing, reading, and computer courses.
“The counselors at MiraCosta College helped me identify what I needed to do, not just to learn the language but also to receive my nursing certifications,” said Julia.
Day by day, little by little, Julia started to master the language and loved every minute of the process.
Explained Julia, “I enjoy learning new things and I am so proud to be doing this at MiraCosta College. I love bragging to all my friends that MiraCosta College is where I am getting my degree.”
Throughout her journey, Julia has found invaluable support countless counselors and professors like Mariana Silva, who consistently encouraged her with the message, "If you want to do it, you can do it."
Today, Julia continues to do everything she can to perfect her English, from completing extra schoolwork to practicing with the help of conversational language apps. Julia is
already a Certified Nursing Assistant and works at a local facility with patients she loves. And once she completes her final perquisites this fall, Julia plans to apply for the MiraCosta College Licensed Vocational Nursing Program to obtain her associate’s degree.
Julia Villeda's story exemplifies the transformative power of community college education and the determination of students who refuse to let language barriers stand between them and their dreams. From ESL classes to nursing certifications, Julia is a testament to what MiraCosta College can do to support a person’s career aspirations.