Laura

“The Honors Program at Highline College gave me confidence and helped me seek different opportunities, while shaping and allowing me to explore my career path.”

Laura on the Honors Program

Who spends 6 years in the same college? Me!

I came to Highline because they offer English as Second Language (ESL) classes, and when I came to the U.S, I did not speak any English. I’m an immigrant from Colombia who migrated to Washington eight years ago.

My first class at Highline was a level one ESL class, and that’s how my journey began. I then spent the next four years learning basic English language skills, and I eventually transitioned from ESL classes to college. Initially, navigating college was very difficult, but exciting at the same time. I had support systems and took advantage of different opportunities, but I still learned the hard way.

The Honors Program at Highline College gave me confidence and helped me seek different opportunities, while shaping and allowing me to explore my career path. The best way to describe myself in one word is “unique”. This is because I don’t like to write, read or study, but I love learning. The Honors Program at Highline helped me to believe that the impossible could be possible. In fact, one program requirement in particular really challenged my way of thinking; this was math, a subject that I have often failed since middle school. I pushed myself and ultimately earned honors in college algebra.

Additionally, in the Honors program, I was provided with tools that supported me to earn a variety of scholarships, as well as assisted me in the transfer process to a four year university. Toward the end of the program, I had the opportunity to be part of the Honors Leadership Team, which contributed to shaping my public speaking and group facilitation abilities.

Since graduating from Highline in 2015, I have worked as a Career Prep. Consultant, and I am currently working as a Leadership Development Coordinator. I’m also the Social Welfare Senator at the University of Washington Tacoma. I am only three months away from earning my BA and, I will start a master’s program in Student Development Administration fall quarter at Seattle University. I also currently intern at Catherine Place, a women’s center in which I co-facilitate a group of domestic violence survivors. I have become an activist for social justice, and besides school and work, I speak up on protests, and present workshops to high school and college students on How to make the most out of college being Queer and LatinX, and How to survive systems of oppression in turbulent times, as well as to advocate for social justice issues.