Amidst families, flowers and photographs filling every corner of the campus, students from the Extended Opportunity Programs and Services (EOPS) program celebrated their graduation while reflecting on the academic and emotional support they received during their time at Cerritos College.
For many, EOPS was more than just a service; it was a support network that sustained them during pivotal moments.
One of the graduates, Mia Sanzibanes, said the program was instrumental in helping her stay focused and advance toward her educational goals. Sanzibanes plans to transfer to Cal State Dominguez Hills to earn a bachelor’s degree in psychology.
“After graduation, I plan to go to Dominguez Hills and study psychology to get my bachelor’s degree,” she said. “I feel great. EOPS has always been very good to me, and I am very grateful that they organized this event for us.”
Sanzibanes highlighted that her favorite part of the program was the constant access to academic resources. “What I liked most was the staff support. I really enjoyed the tutoring services, the access to computers for doing my homework, and always having a place to go,” she said.
Another student, Autumn Wetzel who is studying elementary education said the day was filled with excitement as she prepared for her next academic chapter.
“After graduating, I want to take a short vacation to relax, but what I’m looking forward to most is transferring to Cal State Long Beach,” she said.
Wetzel noted that the energy of the event reflected the community that EOPS has built. “I’m very excited. I love seeing families gathered together, supporting their children who are graduating.”
For her, the most valuable aspect of the program was the accessibility of the counselors. “My favorite part was the support from the counselors. They were always available and were great at answering questions,” she said. “My counselor always told me there’s no such thing as a silly question.”
Wetzel added that she learned an important lesson this year. “I learned not to be afraid to ask questions. A lot of people get nervous, but if you don’t ask, you don’t get answers and that doesn’t help you succeed,” she said.
For Karen Velez, a cosmetology student, this event was especially significant because it was the first time she had participated in a ceremony of this kind. Velez expressed that she felt excited and grateful to be part of EOPS.
“I feel very excited because this is my first time at an event like this,” she said. “What I liked most about the program was seeing my counselor every semester. That helped me stay on track with my classes.”
After graduating, Velez hopes to take nursing classes with the goal of obtaining a license that will allow her to administer injections such as Botox something she cannot do solely with her cosmetology license.
As students posed for photos and shared hugs with their families, a single message echoed through every conversation: EOPS not only helped students stay in college but also helped them believe they could reach the finish line.
