Congratulations! An interview with recent WWU grad, Karina Avila

We here at FuturesNW are so excited to celebrate you and your incredible accomplishments. Thank you for your thoughtful responses and sharing community with us during your time at Western. We look forward to the amazing things we know you will do! Read the interview and watch her Commencement Speech below:

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Karina smiling and holding up her graduation cap, in WWU’s Miller Hall.

Q: First of all, how does it feel to have reached this huge accomplishment?

I feel happy to have experienced what graduating from college would be like. I am still processing being the commencement speaker. It feels like a dream that happened but did not. I always saw myself graduating but never being the commencement speaker. I feel honored to have the platform to shout out to the communities that got me through higher education.

Q: What advice would you give other students who are either thinking about college or in the process of completing a degree?

I would say to follow the process and trust yourself. Sometimes being in higher education you can forget that you have worked hard for your spot in your college/university. During my undergraduate time, I always felt like I was not smart enough or I just happened to get into a university. It took time for me to trust myself and feel secure that I did know what I was doing in school. If there is something you don't know or are not sure of, it is okay to ask for help and make connections for your success in higher education.

Q: What did you wish you would have known as you navigated higher education?

I wish I would have known how to be vulnerable and okay with not knowing everything. If I allowed myself to ask questions and help sooner I think I would have not struggled so much with some of my classes, projects, and extracurriculars. I believed I had to know everything there was to know. This mindset limited my learning and me for the first few years of my undergraduate experience.

Karina smiling and holding her diploma, in her graduation regalia.

Q: How did completing your Financial Aid application help you reach your goals?

In completing Financial aid I was privileged to not pay anything for my education. I just had to complete and update my forms when October 1st came around every year since my senior year of high school. Completing my FASFA allowed me to not worry about money and fully focus on my education.

Q: What will you miss the most about college?

I will miss being an undergrad. My experience was limited because of COVID so there is this weird gap when I was in college and experiencing it online and at home. I will miss the years before COVID and the years we missed. 

Q: What is your favorite memory from your time at FuturesNW?

My favorite memory with FuturesNW has to be my first interaction with the organization as a high school senior. I was at one of the lowest points in my life and education. Going through QuickStart to College boosted my confidence and how I felt about going and being in higher education. Since that first interaction in 2017, FuturesNW has been a solid foundation and community in supporting my higher education. I cherish our first interactions because it was when FuturesNW became part of my community.

“Since my first interaction with FuturesNW in 2017, FuturesNW has been a solid foundation and community in supporting my higher education. I cherish our first interactions because it was when FuturesNW became part of my community. ”

— Karina Avila

Q: What’s your next chapter looking like?

My next chapter is starting my Master’s program through Western Washington University’s Woodring college of education. I will be starting my program in the spring of 2023. I am hoping to then become a world language educator for heritage Spanish-speaking students. I also am hoping to continue building connections and pathways for students of my community by continuing my work with FuturesNW. 

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Karina had the honor of sharing her story and a very moving message about the importance of community as she was selected as the Commencement Speaker. Watch her speech here:

Saturday, Dec. 10, 2022 1:00 p.m. - WWU Commencement on Vimeo

Skip to 23:05 for Karina’s Commencement Speech

It’s okay to change your mind. Advice from Kathia who trusted her gut and switched schools.

Story by Brittany Delaney

Kathia is a first generation, Latina student who began at Edmonds Community College and is transitioning to Pima Medical Institute for spring 2020. Before going into higher education she had no idea what it was going to be like. As many might not know, being a first generation student comes with this shoulder weight that is constantly telling individuals to push forward, don’t ask for help and to fulfill these high family expectations. As Kathia was becoming more independent she always questioned her life decisions. 

            Is education worth it?

            Can’t I make more money doing something else? 

            Am I wasting my time? 

The moment she realized that it was all worth it was when she figured out who she wanted to become in life. She made a choice to be happy and pick a career that suited her values and strengths. She trusted her instincts. She took a couple classes at a time so she had time for self care. She worked part time to help support her family. She looked for answers to her questions even when people didn’t make the time for her. She learned that it is okay to take her time to be the best she can be and to not know what she wants to do with her life at that very moment. 

Her best advice for first gen students is “never stop looking for the answer.”

“Never stop looking for the answer”

Why Not Western?

Story by Brittany DeLaney

Colby is a junior who attends Western Washington University. He started his journey by participating in a mentor program through the Student Outreach Services provided by WWU and eventually expanded his involvement to intramural sports such as soccer, flag football, basketball, and softball. Not only does he play video games and go to the gym in his free time, he also has a part time job while balancing his education. I had the pleasure of interviewing him to find out what helped him make the jump from High School to Western Washington University and asked for advice he has for high school students now contemplating college.

“ Don’t be afraid to talk to your advisors and attend office hours”

Can you tell me any initial thoughts you had before deciding you wanted to go to college?

“Initially I was really happy to actually be applying to college. I had no initial plan until my high school advisor brought it up actually. They asked if I was interested in going to college and from there I decided why not and ended up really happy with my decision”

What was it like to transition from high school to college?

“The transition for me was actually pretty difficult. I wasn’t aware of all that came along with college. The personally created schedules, the independence that I suddenly had. Like making meals and figuring out self-care”

Did you have any challenges while in college? 

“A challenge I faced was not being able to have a relationship with my professors while being in large lectures. However I was able to utilize resources such as S.O.S and their advisors”

Thank you Colby for sharing your story and advice with us today and we wish you the absolute best as you head into your senior year at WWU.

If you have advice for incoming students attending a 4 year university, or are a high school student who has a question please leave your comments and questions below.

From Whatcom to Western

By Brittany DeLaney

Ivy is a Senior attending Western Washington University pursuing a major in Human Services. She began her higher education journey at Whatcom Community College with the opportunity to play for the WCC Women’s soccer team on a scholarship. After finishing her sophomore year she transferred to Western.

“Take breaks. Try not to fill your plate 100%. Ask for help”

What were your initial thoughts when applying for college?

 “I clearly had no idea what I was doing, where to look or where to go. I thought that I wanted to apply for a college in California. I had lived in Bellingham since I was born and had always wanted to live somewhere warm. I applied for Santa Barbara Community College and Whatcom Community College, and ultimately chose to go to Whatcom because I got an offer to play on the Women’s soccer team on a scholarship. I was scared, but excited to do something on my own.”

How has your transition from high school to higher education affected you as an individual? 

“The transition was nothing like I imagined it would be. I had an easier transition than I anticipated, it came naturally to me to be independent and resourceful. The transition taught me that I am stronger than I thought, and more adaptable that others might have expected.”

Could you describe any challenges you faced during college? 

“My biggest challenge was not having the support from my family. It was hard for them to understand that I needed to leave in order to achieve the goals that I had more myself. I found myself being lonely in my experiences, but I later realized that I have a strong support system that is my chosen family.”

What was your experience like when using resources at your college?

“I’ve had good and bad experiences. When it came to financial help, I always got very clear answers about how to receive help. It was academic advising that was a struggle for me. Even when I got my Associates in Arts and Science, I really had no idea what I wanted to do. I felt lost and like I didn’t belong in any of the career paths I had already considered. I eventually found the right Academic Advisor that helped me explore different degrees, which is when I decided on Human Services at WWU.” 

Thanks Ivy for sharing your experiences with us! We wish you all the best as you complete your senior year!

If you, or someone you know have resources or tips for transfer students, please feel free to include them in the comments section below.

WCC Women’s Soccer Team 2015

Navigating through Whatcom Community College; tips and tricks on applying and Financial Aid

Interview with Francia Orozco, by Grace Boyer

Pieta de los Inmigrantes 2019
Francia Orozco

Francia is an artist and specializes in painting. Many of her inspirations come from her parents and her home country, San Pancho, Nayarit Mexico. Francia is also a first-generation college student and hopes to use her art as a platform of educational knowledge for social justice and equity within the United States. Francia is now a very close friend of mine, and I’m so happy I was able to interview her about her experiences at Whatcom Community College.

Francia started going to Whatcom three years ago, after doing one year of community college in near her hometown. Four years later, she is now wrapping up her degree at Western Washington University. She majored in Fine Arts with a minor in Educational Social Justice.

I wanted to start the interview with a general question to how her experiences went during her two years at Whatcom. Her first words were, “extremely rewarding”. If you are thinking about going to WCC, think no further. This is the place to be! Francia said that Whatcom made her feel valued and that her education was equally as important to them as it was to her. The application process? Seamless… The application can be found at Whatcom.edu.

“The application literally takes five minutes, and all you need are your official transcripts. Make sure to reach out to your high school advisors, or any other advisors if you took any college credits elsewhere before you apply. Ask for them early because sometimes they can take a bit to get to you. Other than that though, the application was the easiest one I’ve ever done.”

I asked Francia if she could share a bit about her class experiences she had at Whatcom.
“The professors at WCC really take the time to get to know you on a personal level. The class sizes are small, so you really get to know your professors as well. I had professors take time out of class to reach out to me on different projects I was working on, like my art. I felt that many of my professors really took the time to share their own personal experiences being a college student, and that was really helpful for me.”

I asked if she could share a bit about how she went through the process of enrolling in classes at WCC. “There are always open advising hours on campus. I would just go there and sign my name in and wait until someone was available to help me. I always felt that I was getting the best advice because they really sit down with you and go through all the different options you can take in order to fulfill your GURs- General University Requirements.” When I asked her if she had any tips to future students who are thinking about applying to WCC, or any other colleges, apprentices, or work study programs, this is what she said, “Don’t feel afraid to reach out and ask questions. This is your future, and you are paying for this! There are people there who are getting paid to help you… Might as well take advantage of the resources that are made available to you.”

Relating 2020
Francia Orozco

Next question: How did applying for Financial Aid go?
“This one was a little bit more tricky. Like I said, reach out to people who are there to help you with it! That would have been nice if I did that, hah. The application process is confusing if you have never done anything like that before. Which I think a lot of us haven’t. I wish I would have used the resources made available for me then because it would have made it less stressful. Always just call the Financial Aid office at the college you are applying to and see if there is anyone there that can help you right then, and if not, make an appointment! Again, they are there to help YOU.”

If you are considering applying to Whatcom Community College, don’t hesitate to reach out to our Futures Northwest Team. Different resources can be found at Futuresnw.org that can be helpful for navigating through college applications and Financial Aid. I hope that this interview is helpful to some of you and encourages you to take the next steps in finding success in your future.

If you have already enrolled or plan on enrolling for Fall 2020 and have had a change in Financial Circumstance, this PowerPoint Presentation guides you through how to make that adjustment at Whatcom Community College.