Dennys Carranza: The interview with a new friend

Today I had the great pleasure of interviewing a person that a couple of weeks ago was only a stranger, but now is a great friend. Dennys Carranza describes herself as a nice,independent and hard working individual. Her family is of Mexican decent and consist of her parents and two younger brothers. Her entire life has been spent in the city of Oxnard, she is an alumni of Rio Mesa High school (graduated in 2009).When asked what was her motivation to attend college, she mentioned that she was eager to set an example for her younger siblings. Another reason was that she acknowledge the fact that both of her parents had no formal education and she wants to be the first person in her family to earn a degree. In addition, her younger brother is a source of inspiration because had undergone a lot in his life. Her brother had been teased about his weight and began self mutilating himself . He had also had an issue of his sexual identity. Despite all he had undergone he manage to overcome all of the issues he faced. When asked if she felt she was a mentor, her younger sibling was the person that came to mind because they share many similar tastes.

Currently, Dennys is enrolled in two classes here at Oxnard College. She is taking an English and a health class, during the afternoons she works part-time at a local supermarket. When it comes to balancing her schedule between family,school and work; Denny says “it's stressful but doable”.I also asked my new friend where she envision herself in five years, she envisions her life in pursuit of a nursing career, possibly married with two kids (three kids max). Dennys' goes by the motto “Si Se Puede” to be successful in school. She expresses what she likes about Oxnard college is the people she has met and the teachers that have shown passion for their work. What she dislikes are the few classes offered and how counselors should be more resourceful and efficient. Dennys also tells me how her culture has motivated her to be a college student, she wishes to break the stereotypes to become an independent and educated women. Dennys tells me that the biggest surprise she had in her college experience has been the price of textbooks and the big contrasts between high school and college.