Meet Hanaa Salha, a recent West Valley College graduate who studied Interior Design. Hanaa is a mother of two and had a hard time balancing her responsibilities as a mom and student. Worried that she wouldn’t be able to keep up, she started out by enrolling in just two classes per semester. She then joined Extended Opportunity Programs and Services, or EOPS. This helped her learn more about her financial aid options, and she decided she wanted to take on additional units in order to qualify for aid. Her EOPS counselors helped her choose the right classes and she was able to enroll in additional courses. Counselor Helen Pivk was extremely helpful from the beginning and helped Hanaa before she could even ask. “I was printing out some assignments at EOPS when she came to me to say hi and asked me about the classes I will be taking. I expressed to her my concerns about not having many options and she grabbed a catalog and asked me couple of questions and helped me select the classes right away!”
Her EOPS counselors continued to guide and support her throughout her years at West Valley. Each and every appointment allows students to create a bond with their counselor. EOPS counselors can become an essential part of a student's success because they are not limited to helping a student in the academic path, but they also provide plenty of resources to students who are struggling in other aspects of their lives.
EOPS offered her financial support, academic counseling, personal support and even a part-time job. “EOPS was an essential part of my success. When I first enrolled at WVC, I was not 100 percent sure I’d be able to make it! But EOPS changed the way I perceived things. EOPS gave me the confidence and all the support I needed as a mother, a wife, and a student. Taking on all these big responsibilities on my shoulders was not easy at all, especially when at the same time, I was struggling financially.”
Hanaa worked at EOPS as a technical assistant at the front desk helping students make appointments with the counselors, keeping student files organized, and answering student questions. “I enjoyed working at EOPS and being able to help other students. [EOPS Director] Virginia [Marquez] also allowed me the opportunity to design and implement the 2019 EOPS graduation party and I enjoyed every part of the process.”
“EOPS encouraged me throughout my entire journey at WVC to believe in myself. It guided me through the right path making my life easier and my educational journey more enjoyable. My counselor, Helen, as well as all the other counselors, are very knowledgeable of what classes a student needs and when to take them. EOPS saved me lots of money on very expensive books and allowed me to focus only on my career instead of worrying about how to buy books. EOPS became a part of my life, and I am very grateful for all they have done for me and my family.”
When asked what inspired her, Hanaa told us that she first fell in love with the landscape of West Valley College. She found the natural environment to be both calming and inspiring. She went on to say that every single instructor, counselor, administrative staff, and classmates she encountered were all supportive of her throughout her time at WVC, especially her interior design instructors who were so passionate about their careers. “WVC has the most knowledgeable and empathetic professionals. I love WVC and am thankful for everyone who helped me achieve my goals.”
Hanaa says that her two boys, her passion for interior design, along with all of the support she received, kept her motivated to stay in school. “I believed at the beginning of my career that my boys were a barrier for me to pursue my passion for the interior design career, but I came to realize that they were instead the driving force that allowed me to continue my path.”
Her time at West Valley helped further solidify her goals. She says she “also took an English class with Rebecca Cisneros-Diaz and her teaching style changed the way I view intelligence by introducing at the beginning of her class the different types of mindsets. She made me see the significant power our mind has in helping us achieve our dreams and goals”.
Working towards her goals was not easy. She spent many late nights finishing up her assignments after tucking her kids into bed. She gave it her all and managed to give her children the support they needed while also keeping up with her responsibilities as a student. The college’s Child Development Center, which provides day care services, was a great help as well. Hanaa shared that “the teachers were all awesome and my kids had the best time as toddlers.”
As a role model to her kids, she wants to show them the importance of going to school and pursuing a career you love. Hanaa graduated from West Valley last Spring and is currently working as an interior designer for a firm. She says gratefully, “I cannot describe how satisfied and happy I am every day for being able to work in the field I worked so hard for.”