Self supporting students develop independence

There comes a time when you need to take responsibility for yourself.

Although, many Citrus College students live with their parents in the homes where they grew up, a few of them move out when they turn 18 and/or graduate from high school.
These students find that supporting themselves is difficult yet rewarding.

One such student is Alexia Hernandez, a 20-year-old nursing major, is a full-time Citrus College student enrolled in 12 units. Also, she works as a caregiver at least 42 hours a week.

She was born and raised in El Salvador.

As soon as she turned 18, her family insisted that she support herself, even though she was new to the country and hadn’t mastered English yet.

Hernandez worked as a teacher-assistant for a while at St. Christopher Parish School in West Covina before she became a caregiver.

“I wanted to go to college, but my parents would not support me even if they had the money because they said I’m an adult already,” Hernandez said.

From that point on, Hernandez accepted her parents’ decision and took up the challenge to provide everything for herself.

Juggling the demands of school and work is difficult enough, but Hernandez still has family obligations. She sometimes needs to be at home to take care of her other four younger siblings.

Hernandez has classes during Monday through Thursday from 8:20 a.m. to 1 p.m. She works Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays, from 5 p.m. to 7 a.m.

“It can be really exhausting,” she said. “I sometimes have time to go to class, but I’m just too tired because I just got off work.”

Although her schedule is different from that of most other college students that play and party, she still tries to find some time to relax with friends.

According to Hernandez, the challenging experience has taught her how to be independent.

Another self-supporting student is former student body president Stefano Vincent Saltalamacchia, a 21-year-old political science major.  A full-time student, he works two jobs besides serving as a student senator and competing on the Citrus College swim team.

According to Saltalamacchia, he was 19 years old when his family asked him to leave home. They said they couldn’t support him anymore, and his family refused to accept that he is gay, he said. 
 

“When I was packing my things and putting them into my car... it hit me,” Saltalamacchia said. “Where am I gonna go? How can I support myself?”
 

Saltalamacchia moved in with his best friend for eight months. About four months ago, he moved to a room in San Dimas to be closer to school.
 

“I still do keep in touch with my family... they are growing to accept and love me,” he said.
Saltalamacchia works on campus at FLS as a foreign exchange counselor and dresses mannequins for Old Navy. On a typical day Saltalamacchia works at FLS from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m., then goes to class from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. He practices with the swim team from 1 p.m. till 5 p.m. and then works at Old Navy from 6 p.m. till 10 p.m.
 

“My days are never consistent,” he said. “Its just choices, and sometimes with choices you need to make sacrifices.”
 

Throughout high school, Saltalamacchia said that he felt privileged, as he was protected from the real world.
 

For Saltalamacchia being a self-supporting student became a blessing for him. He tries to balance everything that he needs to get done, while incontrast most students complain about having to live with their parents. 
 

Sometimes Saltalamacchia gets stressed and lonely, he said, but his situation leaves him no option but to succeed. Music helps, especially Che’Nelle’s song entitled “Feel Good,” he said.
 

Saltalamacchia is nowhere near achieving his goals yet, but now he has a better understanding of how to pursue his dreams.
 

“There is so much more to life than being afraid to experience progression,” Saltalamacchia said.
 

“It is amazing to see how self supporting students manage school and achieve their goals with all the struggles they come across.” said director of financial aide Lilia Medina.