Student Profile | Sandra Alfaro

THEN: Ever since she can remember, Sandra has worked and gone to school to help provide for her family. She grew up with dreams of attending college but had no means of getting there.

The Fulfillment Fund presented Sandra with a mentor in high school and a $5,000 college scholarship.

NOW: Sandra graduated from California State University Dominguez Hills in spring 2009 with a B.A. in Psychology. She has already been accepted to CSUDH graduate school where she will pursue her masters and continue forward to obtain her long coveted PhD in Psychology.

IN HER OWN WORDS

Working and going to school full time has proven to be a big challenge. Yet, the biggest challenge that I’ve had to face thus far has been becoming a mother at age 19. My name is Sandra Alfaro; I am twenty-three years old and I’m a pharmacy technician at LAC + USC Medical Center. My goal is to be a PhD in Psychology before my 30th birthday.

Growing up, I witnessed depression, alcoholism, and drug abuse in my home. I saw my mother go through chronic depression and anxiety for a period of over three years and observed my father struggle with alcoholism all my life. The helplessness I felt not being able to assist them is what drove me to declare a major in psychology.

The Fulfillment Fund gave me the hope and courage that I was lacking and desperately needed to find myself.  Because of all they have done, I am proud to say that I am the first in my family to graduate from college.  It's nice to have someone back there, pushing you, telling you that you can do it, because you can, and I'm proof of that. It’s hard working full-time, going to school full-time, and having a three-year-old, but it's do-able.

Today, I am on track to reaching my goals. I know my son Joshua will be proud of me for what I have accomplished and I will make sure he grows up with dreams and goals of his own. I will teach him what the Fulfillment Fund taught me which is that to every dream there can be a reality and with enough will and determination my dreams are now tangible. My story is that of drive, dedication and the pursuit of success through education and I thank the Fulfillment Fund for believing it me when I needed it most.