Carmen Rocha: I hope you can find your strength and purpose as you walk your path

Coming from an immigrant family, we were always told, “Estudien”—study. It took me thirteen years to return to college. I had tried to sign up several times, but I never truly followed through. Life happens, or we make choices that complicate it. 

I came to ECC in 2022 and took my placement test. That summer, I enrolled in my first online class. It was a complicated time, but I kept telling myself, “If not now, then when?” Plus, I had three children watching me, so I had to finish what I started. I always told them the same words my dad told me, “Estudien.” 

In Fall 2022, I took my first Human Services class. Helping others has always felt natural to me, so I believed that my journey could someday help someone else. At first, I felt lost—I only knew about the program from a Google search and a conversation with an advisor. But one class led to another. I met with my advisor, received a plan, plugged it into my academic schedule, making adjustments as needed. All while being a full-time worker and a mother—just like many ECC students.  

Even when my life felt upside down, I showed up to every class with an open mind and a willingness to learn. The classes not only prepared me for the real world; they helped me heal. Liddy Hope gave me hope. There were times I felt like taking a break, times I wondered if I was meant to do this, those moments of negative self-talk we all experience. But she always encouraged me, and somehow, I found myself enrolling in yet another class. I knew I had found the right path for me. 

I met incredible people in the program and watched so many of them grow. I remember that first day—the fear of the unknown, but I heard classmates speak about the positive impact the teachers, program, and peers had on them. I wanted that. I needed that. And now, three years later, I have grown. 

I tell my classmates: it has not been easy. I’ve had many challenges along the way, but I was determined. Maybe it took me thirteen years, but the wait was worth it. Sí se pudo—first-generation college graduate! 

Today, as I prepare to graduate from the program, it’s a bittersweet moment. I feel very proud of myself. I want to thank God, my family, my friends, my teachers, and my classmates. I also want to thank ECC for opening its doors, and the TRIO program for supporting me, encouraging me to apply for scholarships, and always checking in. 

Most importantly, I want to thank me for finding the inner strength to keep going and for believing in myself. I hope you can also find your strength and your purpose as you walk your path. Sí se puede. I don’t know what the next chapter holds, but I know exactly who is writing it. 

Carmen Rocha, '25 

Elgin, Illinois

Associate in Applied Science- Human Service Generalist