Mt. SAC Students Share Success Stories On Path To Graduation
June 08, 2026 - 01:15 PM
Graduating from Mt. SAC is an important and exciting milestone for our students, and each has a different journey on how they arrived at Commencement.
Here are some of those stories:
EDITH ROSALES-SANCHEZ
The road to 2026 Commencement for Edith Rosales-Sanchez was paved with trying life
events.
She left home at 17 years old. She dropped out of school. She worked graveyard shifts.
She became a young parent.
鈥淪omewhere along the way, I stopped seeing my setbacks as failures and started seeing them as redirection,鈥 Edith says.
The direction led her to study Construction Management, which gave her 鈥渁 sense of
purpose and direction during a period of my life where I felt completely lost,鈥 she
says.
While finalizing her degree, Edith realized how close to home her major landed in her life.
鈥淲hat makes my connection to this industry so personal is that I grew up doing labor work myself,鈥 she says. 鈥淚 worked in the fields growing up through scorching summers, freezing winters, pruning vines, picking fruit, and working warehouse packaging jobs.
鈥淚 still remember being around 13 years old trying to keep up with my dad while working. He would already be done with three trees while I was barely climbing down my ladder after finishing my first one.鈥
By getting that experience in discipline, strength, and admiration for people who working in physically demanding jobs, Edith had extra tools in her belt to bring to her new career.
鈥淣ow being in Construction Management, I carry that same respect with me,鈥 she says. 鈥淎s project managers, engineers, and construction managers, we organize and lead projects, but the crews in the field are the people who truly bring our work to life with the labor of their hands.
鈥淥ne day, I hope to become the kind of leader who never forgets that perspective because I once had dirt on my boots too.鈥
Another thing she won鈥檛 soon forget is her first week at Mt. SAC. Four days after she started classes, she gave birth to her son and still managed to turn in her homework.
鈥淚 remember getting up from my hospital bed just a few hours after my C-section knowing I had calculus homework due at 11:59 p.m.,鈥 Edith says. 鈥淚 definitely was not thrilled to be doing calculus from a hospital room, but I turned it in anyway.鈥
It was that resilience that shaped her journey to graduation and on to her next chapter.
鈥淭here were multiple moments in my life where I thought I had completely failed or fallen behind,鈥 she says, 鈥渂ut now I realize those moments were shaping me into the person I needed to become.鈥
That person plans to earn a professional engineer license in California and work on heavy civil and structural engineering projects. Before that, Edith will be transferring to Cal Poly Pomona in the Fall to its College of Engineering to pursue a Construction Engineering and Management degree.
鈥淭his feels like a full circle moment for me because Cal Poly Pomona was my dream school when I was in high school. Back then, I was waitlisted and became extremely discouraged. Now, years later, when I applied again, Cal Poly Pomona was actually the very first CSU to accept me,鈥 says Edith, who was also accepted into Cal State Long Beach, Cal State Fullerton, and San Diego State.
Despite the twists and turns in her path, Edith is proud she kept going.
鈥淭here will always be reasons to stop,鈥 she says. 鈥淩easons to doubt yourself. Reasons to believe you are too late, too overwhelmed, too lost, or too far behind. But sometimes the very things that were meant to break you become the reason you keep pushing forward.鈥
JOCELYNN DE LA TRINIDAD
As a first-generation college student, Jocelynn De La Trinidad wanted to set an example for her younger sister and the rest of her family when she started her higher education journey.
But her enthusiasm for adding as many activities as possible to her schedule was a bar she almost set too high for herself.
鈥淥ne of the biggest obstacles I faced was not necessarily in my classes or academic
performance, but in balancing everything at once,鈥 she says. 鈥淚鈥檓 someone who likes
to be involved as much as I can, and sometimes I take on a lot without fully realizing
how much I'm carrying.
鈥淭his would leave me overwhelmed and oftentimes faced with moments where I experienced imposter syndrome that made me question whether I truly belonged in the positions I took, such as serving in our Associated Student Government as the Academic Senator, or an Honors Student when some classes got a bit hard.鈥
Instead of caving in to her internal doubts, Jocelynn pressed on and grew as a student and as a person.
鈥淢t. SAC became a place where I built confidence in myself and learned that I belong in the spaces that I once questioned my ability to be in,鈥 she says. 鈥淏eing here for the past two years has helped me grow into someone who is more certain of her voice and goals, and I鈥檓 proud to have started my college journey here.鈥
That confidence has shown in her results. Jocelynn has maintained a 4.0 GPA, served as an Academic Senator for the 2025-26 year in Mt. SAC鈥檚 Associated Student Government, and been a decorated member on several student committees.
鈥淚 have also been recognized as a Student of Distinction in the Academic Category. This was especially meaningful for me because I鈥檝e always worn the title of nerd proudly,鈥 she says. 鈥淎dditionally, I have presented research at both the Honors Transfer Council of California鈥檚 Research Conference in 2025 and the Bay Honors Research Symposium in 2026, which were incredibly valuable experiences that allowed me to share my academic interests and work while engaging with other scholars.鈥
As a reward for her hard work and dedication, Jocelynn will be transferring to UCLA, where she will study Political Science and prepare for law school.
鈥淚 hope to pursue a career in law, and at the moment I am especially interested in civil rights and public policy,鈥 she says. 鈥淯ltimately, even if my plans change, I hope to use my education to support underrepresented communities and continue leading a balanced life full of compassion and meaningful impact.鈥
Now that she has found solid footing on her journey, Jocelynn can offer sage advice for students finding themselves in her former shoes.
鈥淣avigating college and new experiences can feel overwhelming,鈥 she says, 鈥渁nd it's easy to compare your journey to others, but when you focus on your own path and what you can offer, you can begin to recognize the unique strengths and perspectives you bring to every space you鈥檙e in.鈥
KEVIN YANG
Kevin Yang was a local congressman in China in April 2020.
At that time, he organized a lawsuit and peaceful demonstration in defense of his constituents.
His actions were met with swift opposition.
鈥淚 was detained and beaten by local police,鈥 Kevin says. 鈥淚n that cold detention room, I faced a choice: I could give up in fear, or I could find a better way to fight to protect our rights and justice in the future. This experience, among the following retaliation, eventually forced me to leave my home country.鈥
Arriving in the United States in 2022 to start a new journey, Kevin found himself middle aged and with no friends or family on whom to lean. Instead, he gained strength through education.
鈥淚 learned that while courage is a good start, I also need to build my academic foundation and legal knowledge, and a deep understanding of the systems often suppressed in China, such as democratic legal frameworks, while gaining the practical skills to advocate for reform,鈥 he says.
Kevin utilized programs like Bridge, EOPS, and Rising Scholars for resources and to develop a sense of belonging in a new country.
鈥淢t. SAC has been my second home and my first line of defense in this new world,鈥 he says. 鈥淚t provided the safe, warm classrooms that stand in stark contrast to the detention cells I once occupied.鈥
In those classrooms, Kevin has been leveling up his knowledge of how an actual free government is supposed to function.
鈥淪tudying the U.S. Constitution, the separation of powers, and the foundation of Checks and balances allowed me to see that the rights I once fought for are not just abstract ideals but protected legal realities,鈥 he says.
When Kevin receives his diploma at graduation on June 12, he will be savoring that moment more than most of his peers.
鈥淢y life as a first-gen immigrant and former political prisoner defines my maturity and drive,鈥 he says. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 just want a degree; I want to become a civil rights attorney/advocate to ensure the dark age of dictatorship never reaches the shores of the democracy I have worked so hard to join.鈥
ALICE RAINWATER
Alice Rainwater has had to overcome and persevere more than her share of hardships on her path to graduation.
鈥淢y journey has not been easy,鈥 she says. 鈥淚 have experienced addiction, homelessness, incarceration, and many obstacles that at one time made me feel like I would never be successful.鈥
But the tide started to turn for her when she posed a simple yet difficult question
to those around her.
鈥淓verything changed when I finally asked for help,鈥 Alice explains. 鈥淲hile incarcerated, I reached out for treatment, and a rehabilitation program came and picked me up from jail. That decision changed the direction of my life.
鈥淪ince then, I have remained committed to my recovery and helping others. I returned to school, earned degrees in Addiction Counseling, Sociology and Social Justice, and Liberal Arts, and now I work at the same rehabilitation center where I once received treatment.鈥
As a respected voice in recovery, Alice lends herself to others on campus to show what is possible.
鈥淩ising Scholars is a program here at Mt. SAC that supports students who were formerly incarcerated as either youth or adults,鈥 she says. 鈥淎s someone who has experienced incarceration, being a part of this program has been very meaningful to me.
鈥淚 currently work in Rising Scholars as a Peer Mentor in the mornings. I help students connect with resources, navigate college, and stay encouraged as they work toward their educational goals. Being able to support others who have faced similar challenges is something I am very proud of.鈥
Alice doesn鈥檛 limit helping others to the confines of Mt. SAC. She also started her own nonprofit organization, Storm to Stability Recovery Living, which is focused on helping individuals rebuild their lives through recovery housing and supportive services.
鈥淎s someone who has personally experienced addiction, homelessness, and incarceration, I understand how important it is to have support and opportunities,鈥 she says. 鈥淢y future goal is to combine my lived experience, education, and professional training to help others find hope, healing, and a path forward.鈥
Her path forward includes transferring to Cal State Fullerton, where she will work on a bachelor鈥檚 degree in human services.
鈥淎fter that, I plan to pursue a master's degree in counseling,鈥 she says.
For Alice, her continued success would not have been possible without asking for help and pursuing education at Mt. SAC.
鈥淚 would like people to know that recovery works and that it is never too late to change your life,鈥 she says. 鈥淓ducation has opened doors for me that I never thought possible. Mt. SAC gave me the opportunity to grow academically, professionally, and personally.
鈥淢y journey is proof that your past does not have to define your future. With faith, determination, support, and hard work, anything is possible.鈥
JONATHAN ROLLHEISER
Jonathan Rollheiser has been living a double life from the moment he set foot on Mt. SAC鈥檚 campus.
In one, he races with confidence and speed as a contributing member of the Men鈥檚 Cross Country team. In the other, he became a conference finalist in multiple events on the Men鈥檚 Swimming and Diving team.
鈥淏eing a dual-sport athlete and climbing my way up from the bottom of two teams required
a great amount of grit,鈥 Jonathan says. 鈥淪wimming and cross country are extremely
high in cardio, which became very physically demanding especially with practices being
a few hours apart from each other.鈥
While he used his freshman year to gain strength and find his footing both on the course and in the pool, Jonathan really hit his stride during his sophomore season.
鈥淚 was given the opportunity to achieve my goal of wearing a Mt. SAC jersey with pride,鈥 he says of his second year running cross country, 鈥渁nd I was able to successfully complete the season with many personal records.鈥
Jonathan pushed the envelope even further with his work in the water.
鈥淚 set the bar high for my sophomore season with my overall goal to be a state competitor,鈥 he says about his goals for his second year on the swim team. 鈥淎fter several months of hard work and dedication in self-driven individual practices, I saw results during our first meet of the season. I managed to beat all my previous times that had come from conference during my freshman season.鈥
That hard work has paid off for him.
鈥淏ecause of my grit from training and a new deeper passion for swim I have committed to the University of La Verne for the 2026-27 swim season,鈥 Jonathan says. 鈥淏eing able to swim after Mt. SAC was hardly a thought before coming to the college.鈥
He credits his athletic mentors for his success and ascendance.
鈥淚 continue to be very thankful for the support I have received from my coaches,鈥 Jonathan says. 鈥淚 plan to continue to use my drive and passion for athletics to continue improving in my sports.
鈥淭his competitive experience at Mt. SAC has taught me to always take on the challenges that come my way in life. You will never know what could happen until you make it happen.鈥
YUYING "FAITH" DANG
Yuying 鈥淔aith鈥 Dang has had to overcome more than her share of health issues during the first 21 years of her life.
鈥淚 have a complex medical history, mainly due to being born with Spina Bifida, which has caused me to be paraplegic since birth,鈥 Faith says.
She also is a former foster youth who had a caregiver fail to give her the care she
needed to function during her day-to-day routine.
鈥淚 was admitted to the hospital for a few months and needed several surgeries because of it,鈥 she says.
In addition to her health setbacks, Faith got a late start on her education too.
鈥淏efore being placed in foster care, I grew up in an orphanage in a rural area of China,鈥 she says, 鈥渁nd I didn鈥檛 start receiving a formal education until the seventh grade.鈥
Despite her challenges, Faith keeps pressing on.
鈥淚 have not let my late start as a student, my disabilities, or my many health challenges become obstacles in my path toward an education,鈥 says the bilingual student, who speaks Mandarin and English. 鈥淚 am consistently a hard-working student, involved with on-campus programs, and have maintained a GPA of 3.26.鈥
Faith credits the support systems on campus with her success.
鈥淭he community at Mt. SAC has greatly impacted me in many ways, including the programs I鈥檓 part of, such as NextUp/REACH, EOPS, Arise, and ACCESS,鈥 she says. 鈥淭hey have supported me a lot throughout my journey since I started. I have learned life skills and made many new friends through these programs.鈥
Through these connections, Faith has grown to be comfortable on a college campus.
鈥淚 was scared about going to college prior to applying to Mt. SAC because I needed to catch up on many subjects, such as English and Math,鈥 she says. 鈥淚 was afraid at first because I didn鈥檛 know what to expect. Now, I am doing great at Mt. SAC and have built relationships and a support network to help me reach my goals.鈥
One of those goals is becoming a transfer student.
鈥淚 will continue to challenge myself to be a better, more independent person by asking for help and information, doing the things I need to do, and working hard toward transferring to Cal Poly Pomona,鈥 Faith says. 鈥淚 hope to accomplish many new things in the future.鈥
ZHILIN CHEN
When Zhilin Chen came to the United States from Shanghai, China for her education, she decided to take it one step at a time.
Zhilin鈥檚 first few years were spent preparing for the GED.
鈥淚 did not want to rush into college classes because I worried my English wasn't strong
enough to actually handle the material, especially since I knew I wanted to major
in something challenging,鈥 she says.
Her most challenging time came during the 2025 Winter Intersession. Zhilin was finishing up requirements for her GED and working a part-time job when she added Honors Speech and Honors Philosophy classes to her schedule.
鈥淔or someone who is not a native speaker, these subjects felt overwhelming,鈥 she says. 鈥淓very single day, before and after my work, I would sit at my computer and face screens full of philosophical arguments that felt impossible to follow. I read every sentence three times to fully digest them.
鈥淚 kept a notebook on my desk to write down and memorize every new word, because I wanted to actually understand the logic behind the text and expand my vocabulary in the learning process.鈥
Zhilin鈥檚 methodical process has worked, helping her earn a 3.96 GPA over the course of 78.5 units. But academic scores are not the only bullet points on her resume.
鈥淥utside of my studies, I try to stay involved on campus to give back. I am part of the MESA Program, and I serve as a Campus Community Senator in Student Government,鈥 Zhilin says. 鈥淭hese roles, along with my jobs as a warehouse lead, a restaurant helper, a teacher assistant in a daycare, and a manager in startup companies, have taught me how to manage my time under extreme pressure.鈥
In addition to all of that, Zhilin manages home life as well.
鈥淲hile some of my peers can focus on their textbooks, I am constantly balancing the world of study, community, and personal affairs with the immediate needs of my family and the demands of my jobs,鈥 she says. 鈥淭his daily juggling of being a provider, a translator, and a student is what sets me apart, as it has taught me a kind of insistence that goes beyond just getting a high grade.鈥
Those grades, however, have opened doors to her next chapter.
鈥淚 am honored to receive the transferring offers from CSU Fullerton and CSU Los Angeles now, waiting for other results to be released,鈥 Zhilin says. 鈥淚 will take the hard work and discipline I learned at Mt. SAC with me to the next level of my education.鈥