Hello Cerritos College Students ~

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Thank you for taking the time to read my profile. You can read as little or as much as you want about me. But I want you to know that you are welcome to communicate with me throughout this course as well as into your ongoing educational and occupational successes. I can relate to Cerritos College students because my upbringing or life might be similar to yours. 

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I am a first generation college student. This means I am the first in my family to complete a college education and furthermore, I am still the only person to have a college education in my immediate family. I paid my own way through school. My parents did not pay for one unit nor one book. I worked two and three jobs as a food server and I also cleaned houses for some quick cash.  

 

I attended Fullerton College (community college) and spent a few too many years there. Perhaps some of you can relate to that? If so, feel PROUD of your decision to attend community college. If I would have gone straight from high school to college and proceeded in the usual fashion, I would not be a Geographer, I would not be a Geography Professor and I would not have the lovely and joyful life I have today.  Community College provides a safe place for second and even third chances and allow us time to find our passions and what it is that makes our hearts and souls pump.

 

Eventually, I transferred to California State University, Fullerton and earned my Bachelor's and Master's Degrees in Geography. With a whole lot of luck, I quickly earned a full-time job at Cerritos College after graduation. I was thrilled to get a job at Cerritos College because I enjoy Cerritos College students very much (well mostly!) Correct me if I am wrong... I have a "stereotype" of Cerritos College students. You appreciate your opportunity to earn an education and you recognize how an education can change your life and take you to places you might never have dreamed. Right or Wrong?... this is my view of you and it is my goal to help you toward a peaceful, joyful and loving life with a college education in your back pocket to help you along your way!

 

After working at Cerritos College for a few years, I went back to school and earned my Doctorate Degree at USC. I have spent a large part of my life working full-time and going to school full-time and I understand the difficulties that community college students endure. We often have financial burdens or stresses at home. We have parents and siblings we need to care for. We often have difficulties with transportation and have to take the bus to school or require rides from friends and family members. It is often difficult to find a peaceful place to study at home and yet with all these struggles, we push through toward success. 

 

I want you to see yourself in me. I too was a community college student and my life today is more amazing than I could have ever dreamed up. I have stood on 6 of the 7 continents. I have been to amazing places such as the Galapagos, Uzbekistan and Moldova. (Huh? Where is that?). Today, I have financial peace, I choose to spend time with loving friends and family and I get to do basically whatever I want, including my amazing work at Cerritos College.

 

In my opinion, my life is lovely for a few reasons: 1) Yes, my perspective is positive. I love life and have gratitude for a single breath because with it, I know I am alive.  But 2) I also made good choices. Choices that sought happiness and joy over monetarily focused cultural norms. I listened to my "knowing" - that thing that speaks TRUTH within each of us -  I chased peace. And finally 3) My college education. My degrees empower me to do what I WANT to do rather than what I HAVE to do.  

 

My motto is, "I have one life to live, it will be a happy one."

 

I wish for you to have all the joy in the world, for you to grow and learn and expand in your humanness in this ONE life we are given. So use your time wisely. Focus on your education. Earn your best grades. Find happiness and gratitude in the simplest of joys. Change your life and your family tree through education.

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I wish you much success in this course and onward. 

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Dr. Crystal LoVetere