Gladis Venegas Student Spotlight
Gladis Venegas鈥� journey at 麻豆传媒 is one of rediscovery and resilience. After graduating from Lake Quinault High School in 2017, she started college immediately, pursuing nursing prerequisites. But as time passed, Gladis realized nursing wasn鈥檛 the right fit. She took a step back to reevaluate and, in the spring of 2024, returned to GHC with a fresh perspective and a new goal: becoming a teacher.
The decision didn鈥檛 come easy. 鈥淚 thought, 鈥楽hould I keep pursuing nursing? I鈥檝e already started,鈥欌�� she admits. 鈥淏ut I realized I shouldn鈥檛 feel down on myself. My boyfriend, who鈥檚 a teacher, said, 鈥榊ou鈥檇 be great at this,鈥� and I thought, 鈥楳aybe you鈥檙e right.鈥欌�� Gladis is now working through her prerequisites for GHC鈥檚 Bachelor of Applied Science in Teacher Education (BAST) program, with the goal of applying this spring. She has found her determination to achieve her dream of teaching elementary-aged students. 鈥淜indergarten would be fun. I don鈥檛 have kids, but I think it鈥檇 be so much fun.鈥�
Choosing GHC was an easy decision for Gladis. 鈥淚t鈥檚 close to home,鈥� which makes commuting from Quinault manageable, and it lets her stay connected to her family and friends. Over the years, she鈥檚 found incredible support at GHC, especially from Lizbeth Sanchez from TRIO. 鈥淟izbeth has been amazing. She鈥檚 always checking in and helping with homework. TRIO has really made things so much easier for me,鈥� Gladis says.
Her time at GHC hasn鈥檛 been all work and no play! One of her favorite memories during her time at GHC was Student Life鈥檚 Mayhem event. 鈥淥ne year, my friends and I decided to join in, and we had so much fun in the bouncy house! Props to Student Life!鈥� she says with a laugh. She鈥檚 also recently gotten involved in volunteering with the Latinx Youth Summit, continuing to find ways to make her college experience meaningful and enjoyable.
For Gladis, the most important lesson she鈥檚 learned is to never give up. 鈥淒on鈥檛 give up, no matter how hard the situation gets,鈥� she says. 鈥淛ust keep pushing through, and always prioritize your mental health,鈥� she says. Through her time at GHC, she has also become a role model for her younger brother, who also studies at GHC, always encouraging him to work hard and stay focused on his goals.
Looking ahead, Gladis is excited about the future. Her dream is to become a teacher in her local community, inspiring young learners and giving back to the place that shaped her. 鈥淕HC has helped me so much, from getting the classes I need to just being a supportive community. It鈥檚 made all the difference,鈥� she says.
Gladis鈥� story is one of determination and finding her way forward. Her advice to fellow students? 鈥淎s Dory says, just keep swimming!鈥�