Student Spotlight: Rebeca Garcia Aquino
Rebeca Garcia Aquino has something to say to everyone who has ever had a dream that seems out of reach: “A goal without a plan is just a wish.” She knows this is true because, she says, she is proof.
“Look, I get it. I always wanted to go to college, but I didn’t have a pathway or the guidance to get here,” she said. “I was struggling and lost; then I was lucky enough to have people show me the way. And now look, here I am, I’ve almost graduated from El Camino College and I’m going to transfer to Cal State Dominguez Hills next spring. I can hardly believe it myself.”
As she pursues her degree in business marketing, Aquino taps into her own supply of perseverance, dedication, and hard work – qualities she wants to instill in her young daughter and son. As a single mother, she juggles parenting responsibilities while running a household, working, completing her degree, and planning to start her own business one day. She admits her challenges weigh on her but refuses to let fear and depression hold her back. Her children motivate her to keep going – she wants to be a role model for them – and she is inspired by her late fiancé, who always encouraged her to go back to school and realize her dreams.
Aquino’s outstanding academics and dedicated service to others were recently honored by Soroptimist International of Manhattan Beach with the Live Your Dream Award. She is one of six El Camino students to win this substantial education award for women who provide the primary financial support for their families so they can improve their education, skills and employment prospects.
“This means so much to me and it isn’t just about the scholarship,” said Aquino, who is also a member of the CARE program on campus, which helps keep her informed about scholarships and workshops, while connecting her to important on- and off-campus resources. “I feel like they see me and acknowledge what I’m accomplishing – something that is huge. I can see so many possibilities now; I know the meaning of ‘the sky is the limit’.”
Aquino’s path to El Camino began at the South Bay Adult School, where she enrolled three years ago to earn her high school diploma. She remembers she didn’t have the greatest attitude while there, but one teacher wouldn’t let her give up and soon helped her join a dual enrollment program at El Camino where she could complete her diploma and work toward a college degree at the same time.
“Ms. Katy slowly changed me without saying a word; she helped me see what my life could be like with education,” said Aquino, who speaks with dazzling energy and absolute confidence in her chosen path. “She helped me find my voice and now I want to help give others a voice. I have so much knowledge to give students. I know it’s hard, I know what it’s like to be a first-generation college student, I know grief and trauma – I’ve been there! But if you can just get started, you can do it. I tell other students, just start. And once you do, you will have gained a superpower.”
Taking jobs on campus, Aquino has positioned herself to help students in many ways. By working at the Transfer Center and through previous positions as a Student Health Center Ambassador and the Warrior Pantry, she can connect directly with students and make an immediate impact.
“I think I’m approachable because I’m a student as well,” she said. “I feel that El Camino has a lot of resources and opportunities, so you have to find out what you need. I tell students what is available, but it is up to them to get it done. It worked for me, and I will say it’s a long journey, but it’s the journey that builds your strength and reveals your true potential. All you need is a plan to make it happen.”