2024 - Arielle Gonzalez-Guerra: I’ve never been prouder to be a student at ECC

Growing up wasn’t easy; as a child, I always sought love and acceptance. I met my first boyfriend when I was fifteen; it was love at first sight. However, things soon began to change in our relationship. As a teenager, experiences with domestic violence are typically minimal, so when the red flags began to emerge, I didn’t recognize them. What started as him being a little anxious when I didn’t answer the phone turned into regular physical abuse.

As this was going on, my grades plummeted. Eventually, I was kicked out of high school and sent to an alternative school, where I struggled with attendance and turning in assignments. Three months before I graduated high school, I found out I was pregnant. My pregnancy wasn’t received well at home, and I was forced to leave after I finished high school. I graduated with a 1.3 GPA and became homeless for the first time. I secured a spot in a transitional housing program far away from my abuser. I had my daughter, Ava, two weeks before Christmas in 2010.

Years went by, and I got married and had my daughter Lydia, and decided I needed to heal from my trauma. After four years of EMDR, I felt my self-worth reemerging and built enough confidence to enroll at ECC in the fall of 2021. I knew I wanted to do something to help survivors of abuse, and I knew that a degree might open doors. In my first semester, I took an English course. It was through that class that I discovered my love for writing.

I want to tailor my passion for research and writing to something that will help people in my community. That’s how I decided to attend law school. I hope to become a “helper” attorney for those who need legal services but can’t afford them or to work on social policy reform in government.

This year, I became an Honors in Action officer of Phi Theta Kappa. I experienced a full circle moment when I collaborated with other clubs on campus, and we gathered over 900 donations for my former transitional housing program. As I watched this team of students filling baskets full of the donations we collected, I can honestly say I’ve never been prouder to be a student at ECC.

I won’t be going too far next year. I am humbled to receive the Honors Full Tuition Scholarship to North Central College and will continue my education there in the fall. I couldn’t have done this without the unwavering support of my professors, Dean Garcia, my friends, and my family. I hope to continue breaking cycles in my family as I serve my community.

Arielle Gonzalez-Guerra

Associate in Arts

St. Charles, Ill.

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