Sheila Sarsuelo's TRiO SSS Success Story

Name: Sheila Sarsuelo       

Semester/Year Started at WCC: Fall 2012

Semester/Year Started in TRiO SSS: Fall 2012

It has been 12 years since I have been in school, so coming back to school was just mind blowing. I came back to school because I wanted to better myself as a single parent and to have a future for my children. I wanted to be able to get back into my education so that when my kids needed help I was able to help them out and not telling them that I didn't know. I wanted to be the first person they can ask for help. Not going back to school was not an option for me. I decided I wanted to go to school to achieve my goal. I am attending Windward Community College to further my education, not only to better myself in everyday life, but I also want to use my experience to better the future for my kids, I will not give up.

I am a part of TRiO, which is excellent because I can do my homework and print out my assignments there, and if I need any help I can ask my mentors. TRiO is an awesome program to be a part of, they offer free one-on-one tutoring, provide free lunch and have affordable snacks such as, soda, water, chips, candy, saimin and coffee and a whole bunch of other things. If it wasn’t for TRiO I honestly would not be able to succeed. I also landed a job here as a Peer Tutor, where I assist students and my mentors with whatever they need. I was ecstatic when I earned a 3.25 grade point average for fall 2012. The drive that I had every day during my first semester, will still be the same as I go into my second semester of college. To the best of my ability, I will strive for what I set out to reach, my goal, to become a teacher in early childhood education and grades K-6.

Outside of school, I continue to give love and support to my kids, and teach them to strive for the best, so that they can accomplish any obstacle put in front of them. And so because of that, in return, they love me unconditionally. That is what motivates me to better myself and keeps pushing me to do bigger and better things for our future.