Alejandra Hernandez
First-generation student
Business program, Pueblo Campus
It’s not an easy transition to go from being everyone else’s caretaker to prioritizing yourself.
Due to her mother’s addiction issues and her father’s absence, Alejandra Hernandez spent much of her teen years acting as a surrogate parent for her siblings. She left high school during her freshman year to manage those responsibilities.
Understandably, it became too much. Her grandmother convinced her to go back to school; Alejandra ended up in the Job Corps and earned her high school diploma.
She also met her future husband, Michael, who serves in the Army. They moved to Pueblo in 2023.
With her daughter in school full time, Alejandra looked for jobs. Most required experience or a degree, neither of which she had.
“I finally had to talk with myself and tell myself not to be scared – just go to school,” she said. “If I didn’t go now, four years would pass me either way. … I could have a degree and a job, or I could be wishing I had gone back to school.”
Alejandra quickly felt at ease on the PCC campus. With her family’s support, she enrolled in PCC’s Business program. She was accepted into the TRIO Student Support Services program, which offers free academic support and other resources to first-generation students and those who are low-income and/or have a documented disability.
“TRIO has helped me learn new financial skills, study skills, and has been a great support overall,” she said. “My coach, Anissa Manzanares, is very kind and encourages me to keep pushing through.”
“I always knew I didn’t want to end up like my parents, and I didn’t,” Alejandra said. “I always wanted a better life. I thank God every day for never abandoning me while I was in the eye of the storm.”
Enrolling in college can be intimidating, especially for those without another family member’s experience to guide them, but Alejandra said it’s a challenge that’s worth the work.
“You are the only person who can set limits on yourself, so don’t,” she said. “Life is hard. School is hard. Getting a minimum wage is hard. So choose your ‘hard’ – only one (of those things) is going to give you a huge advantage in life.”
