Deena Fernandez

Future goal: Master of Business Administration (MBA)

My name is Deena Fernandez. I am a woman, a mother; I am a first generation college student, and a manager. I am a Mexican-Native American, a wife, but most importantly I am a role model. When my daughter grows up I want her to know that her parents did everything possible to make sure she has good life and an even better education. But first, I must show her that anything is possible and she too can achieve any goal.

My goal is to obtain a Master’s degree in Business Accounting and become a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), by doing that I will show my daughter that dedication and perseverance goes a long way when one is on the road to success.

Growing up I was not considered studious. Although I graduated with a 3.25 GPA, I always felt that it wasn’t good enough to get into a good college therefore never even tried. My parents never graduated college but insisted I go. But even as I was growing up I was always on my own when it came to doing homework or learning life’s lessons. My parents either didn’t remember or just didn’t know how to help me, as the curricular had changed drastically since they went to high school. But sometimes I just felt as if they weren’t in my mind frame. The only people I had were my peers. While some went off to college straight from high school on full ride with their parents putting up all the money to support their dreams, others just didn’t even bother. So here I was stuck in the middle. I wanted to go, but didn’t have the money to pay for it and my parents could not help. Even though I did qualify for financial aid, I ended up just wasting time and money by being enrolled but not doing the work. It was not fulfilling for me, but with my parents it was the old rule, ‘either go to school or get a job’.

So I got a job doing accounting for a small manufacturing company. It was there that I say I found my calling. I found business and accounting to come very easy to me. Not only did I adequately understand everything, but I was good at it. So I enrolled in an accounting class while attending Chabot College it was there that everything began to make sense to me. This is the field I belong in. I declared my major to be business administration and accounting. I was 18, working full time and going to school part time. But I for me it was difficult to juggle the two. I had to pay to go to school, but got paid to go to work therefore work always took priority. All too often I would get off of work and not feel like going to class, instead I would go hang out with friends or just go home. Nearly five years passed and I weaved in and out of classes, not really focused or serious about accomplishing what I had started. Until December 2007, I found out I was pregnant. It was then that I realized I have to be the best that I can be so that I can inspire my child to be the best they can be.

So I gathered my thoughts and decided that I wanted my child to have the best education, but I must first start with me. I cannot tell her to get her Master’s degree or PhD. But I have yet to graduate college. She needs to know that her mother and her father know what it’s like to go to college; we understand that it’s difficult. But at the same time she can see the benefits by taking a look at her life, our life and seeing that we made it through standing and proud. So for me obtaining a Master’s degree is not just a degree. It is my accomplishment, it is me saying that I have put my mind to doing something and I will do it. No matter the circumstances or the obstacles I will get it done. For me it’s fulfilling my dreams.

So now, I am back in college considered three quarters, nearly full time and working full time on top of being a full time mommy. It’s hard and expensive, but I found the online classes to be extremely helpful and I have applied for financial aid. Upon getting my transcripts together and working out a schedule I have found that I only have 3 semesters left to get my Associates degree. That has inspired me as well because now I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. Now I know that with a lot of hard work and perseverance, I am on the road to success.