Small Steps, Big Dreams: Yes, you can!

Priscilla Ojeda is an inspiring member of the RCC Early Childhood Education pathway cohort. She enrolled as an Adult Education Concurrent Enrollment student at Riverside Adult School from October 2023 through January 2024 while earning her GED.

After facing unemployment and wanting to move beyond dead-end jobs, Priscilla decided to return to school. On her first day, Kristopher Acevedo, Ed.D., the RCC Educational Advisor for Adult Education & Extended Learning, visited her classroom and shared the opportunity to attend college for free while enrolled in GED classes.

The program offered to GED students included twelve core units towards the Early Childhood Education certificate, which aligned perfectly with her career aspirations. Initially hesitant after being out of school for over twenty years, Priscilla received tremendous support from Acevedo and her daughter. Her daughter graduated in Spring 2024 with an Associate of Arts in Social & Behavioral Sciences from RCC.

Priscilla's first college course, “An Introduction to College,” presented challenges as she navigated online learning and technology. However, through practice and perseverance, she improved her skills. The guidance and kindness of her Early Childhood Education (ECE) professors also made her transition smoother.

By February 2024, Priscilla officially graduated from Riverside Adult School with her GED and transitioned to traditional college at RCC. Her journey demonstrates that it’s never too late to pursue education, even if it requires taking small steps. She adopted the motto “Yes, you can!” and expressed deep gratitude to her husband, children, Riverside Adult School teachers, ECE professors at RCC, and Kristopher Acevedo for their support.

Today, Priscilla proudly serves as the new RCC Assistant Teacher at the RCC Child Development Center, where the children affectionately call her “Ms. Priscilla.”