Impact Report: Year-Ends 2021 and 2022

Andrea Morales

Andrea Morales: current student at College of San Mateo

“My goal and my dream is to go to Stanford.”

There is no doubt that Andrea Morales will achieve any dream to which she sets her mind. A native of Guatemala, Andrea is the voice of determination, will, and success for all first-generation college students, particularly Latinas.

Andrea Morales spent most of her life living with her aunt and grandmother in Guatemala while her parents worked in the United States for a better life for the family. “My mom immigrated when I was one and my dad left for the U.S. when I was three. They came here to work hard, so my sister and I could have a better life.” While still in Guatemala, Andrea knew in her heart that she was helping her parents by being a good student who received excellent grades.

In 2017 at the ages of 16 and 20, Andrea and her sister Luisa were given the opportunity to join their parents in the United States. “My parents got their green cards — they worked hard for it. Then we got the news that they had claimed us and we could come as documented immigrants. All of a sudden we came here. It was out of the blue and we had no contacts other than our parents.”

Andrea finished her last 1.5 years of high school in the U.S. and it has been a life-changing journey. “My sister and I feel blessed and we take every opportunity that comes our way to succeed. When I came here, I learned to advocate for myself and to speak up.” Andrea sees everything from a positive perspective and always likes to smile because it can change someone’s day, even her own. “My positive attitude is a big part of what defines me as a person.” Although they are no longer together, she still embraces her grandmother’s motto: “Has el bien. Sin mirar a quien.” (Do good things for your community no matter who they are and the good will come back to you someday.)

CSM was the natural choice for Andrea when she finished high school. While she had all the requirements to attend a four-year university, she was still experiencing the shock of adjusting to a new culture and environment, and new people. The community college experience helped her adjust and grow as a person. She learned about herself and how to build her own community. CSM was also one of the first places in this country to open doors for Andrea after she experienced discrimination in high school because she is a Latina.

While she never considered the possibility of having mentors, at CSM she found many, from Fauzi Hamadeh and Aaron Schaefer in Student Life and Leadershipto Paola Mora Paredes in the Multicultural Center & Dream Center and Arianna Avendano at EOPS. However, the one person who she most credits for empowering and teaching her to speak out and advocate for herself is the Multicultural Center & Dream Center’s Jackie Santizo. “Once I could speak for myself, I could advocate for, empower, and motivate others."

In addition to being a top student, Andrea was elected to the student senate and is now Student Body President. She is also an intern at the Multicultural Center & Dream Center, is working with a professor to create a club to support ESL students, and was invited to be the keynote student speaker at CSM’s Centennial Gala. She is a shining example of what a student can achieve with perseverance and hard work. In fact, achieving through higher education is a family affair in the Morales household. Luisa also attends CSM, and their father, Danilo, will graduate this spring with a business degree from Cañada College. “If my dad can struggle and stay awake to study, so can I. It’s easier for me because I’m not working full-time to feed a family.”

Andrea’s achievements don’t end with her academics and extracurricular activities. She is also the recipient of several scholarships through the Foundation. Awards include the Dale and Helen Mersereau Scholarship, the Fred and Mary Lou Baldra Scholarship, an EOPS grant, and the CSM Promise Scholars Program. During the pandemic, she received an SMCCCF Emergency Funds grant to help her through a challenging financial time. “These scholarships are a blessing and an opportunity and it is up to me to take advantage of it by becoming more educated so I can show them the impact of their big hearts.” Andrea would also love to get to know some of the donors so she can thank them in person.

With all her successes and positive, can-do attitude, it’s no surprise that Andrea ultimately wants to be a neurosurgeon. She grew up seeing the care her aunt, who was a nurse, gave to the community. She also experienced the love and gratitude people sent her aunt every day. “I’m not worried about how much money I’ll get paid. I only want to have that connection with my community, of helping people and giving them the care they need. Just like my auntie.” Andrea is set to graduate and transfer in the spring of 2023 with an Associate in Science degree in biology with a minor in chemistry and a certificate in biotechnology. Whichever university she chooses to attend will be extraordinarily lucky to have her as a student.