“When people hear my accent, they often ask where I'm from...”

History major Nikki Hurtado never expected she'd become a college graduate, but now, only months away from the ceremony, she's confident that she'll receive her diploma.

At age seventeen, Nikki dropped out of high school after discovering that she was pregnant. In an effort to support herself and her child, she took any minimum wage jobs she could, and ignored her dreams of going back to school.“At that time,” she says, “there weren't very many systems in place for students with kids.”

Now, a wife and mother of three children, Nikki recalls a time, not long ago, when the world seemed to encourage her to return to school, and despite her fears and obstacles she earned her Associates degree and transferred to Pacific.

“I liked the small classroom environment Pacific offers,” Nikki says. “I was surprised how empathetic and caring the professors and administrators were, they've all been so encouraging. My teachers were knowledgeable and passionate about their subjects, they helped students set goals and to believe in themselves.”

Nikki credits many people with helping her adjust during the first year at Pacific. In an effort to give back, Nikki worked as a transfer mentor helping new students become accustomed to campus life. “It's important to build a support network—professors, students, and staff, anyone  who you can go to with questions, or when you feel like you can't hang on.” Now, Nikki says, she sees people whom she's mentored becoming leaders on campus.

When asked how she's able to attend school full time while raising a family and volunteering, Nikki smiles and says, “I do it because I can't go back. I do it because today I know that I can do anything.”