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Your Local California Community College Is Here for You

By: Lizette Navarette, Interim Deputy Chancellor, California Community Colleges

Imagine paying the bills each month without stressing over what’s in the bank. Going to work each day to do something you find stimulating. Coming home to spend time with your family, enjoying the evening without dreading the next morning.

Seem impossible?It’s not. It’s a life much more common among people who have the education required to succeed. And that could be you.

Life has changed so much in recent years, in good ways and bad. You’re not alone in wanting something to look forward to. Leaning into your future, even charting a new path, can feel really good.

As you think about what’s next, remember that your local California community college is ready to help. Whether you are thinking about finishing a degree or starting a new one, picking up skills to help you grow or moving your children out of the house, we are prepared to meet your needs. While community colleges have always been a great deal, they are now better than ever. No need to give up your job or radically change your life to get some more education or training—there are all sorts of options to make college your way possible.

Of course, that starts by making things easy on your wallet. The rent must be paid, and food must be on the table while you’re learning, so community colleges now offer “basic needs” centers to help with the essentials. No need to run around town trying to find financial assistance; just go straight to the college and to learn about financial aid as well as public benefits and cost-cutting programs to help make ends meet. Get started by filling out a FAFSA or California Dream Act application, which will help determine financial aid eligibility. Fortunately, the deadline this year has been extended to September 5, giving you an extra weekend to apply.

As a first-generation American and advocate for student success, I know it can be a big help to have someone by your side to help you navigate through finding the right classes to avoid wasting time. That’s especially true when you’re juggling parenting, working, or other responsibilities along with college—it’s normal to be overwhelmed. As the Interim Deputy Chancellor of California Community Colleges, I can tell you that support is available. California community colleges now receive state funding to provide you with a dedicated guide to college if you return to school.

There’s no perfect age or situation required to be a community college student. You don’t need high grades or test scores, it’s fine to have more life experience than college credits in hand, and you’ll still be welcomed even if you feel a bit like an imposter. You belong – after all, you are the “community” in community college.

Some programs take a few months, others a year or two, but in the end the economics are very clear— going to community college pays off. Graduates of community colleges earn more money, enjoy more financial stability and better health, and are more likely to send their own children to college. That’s why California built these valuable institutions, 116 in all, and its why millions of your friends, neighbors, and family members attend them. So why not join them, invest in yourself and a brighter future? There’s no better time than now. Visit www.ICanGoToCollege.com today for more information on how to make a brighter future for you and your family.

您當地的加州社區學院將竭誠為您服務

撰稿人：加州社區學院臨時副校長Lizette Navarette

想像每個月支付賬單時，無需為銀行賬戶裡有多少錢而感到緊張。每天上班去做讓自己感到興奮的工作。回家陪伴家人，享受夜晚的時光且不用為第二天早上感到擔憂。

好像不可能？其實不然。這是在那些接受過成功所需教育的人士中更為普遍的生活。而您也可能成為其中一員。

近年來，生活發生了很大的變化，有好的也有不好的方面。不止您一個人想要在生活中有所期待。朝著您的未來前進，甚至開闢一條新的道路，都會讓您感覺非常好。

在考慮未來時，請記住：您當地的加州社區學院已經準備好為您提供幫助。無論您是想完成學位還是開始新的學業，獲取助您發展的技能還是讓孩子開始獨立生活，我們都做好了準備來滿足您的需求。雖然社區學院一直都是一項很好的選擇，但現在它們比以往任何時候都要好。您無需放棄工作或徹底改變生活，就可以獲得更多的教育或培訓——這裡有各種各樣的選擇讓您的大學之路成為可能。

當然，這要從為您減輕經濟負擔開始。在上學的時候，您需要支付房租、購買食品，所以社區學院現在都設有「基本需求」中心，以幫助您滿足基本需求。無需在城裡四處奔走尋找經濟援助；直接去學校瞭解有關財務補助、公共福利以及降低開支的項目，以幫助您實現收支平衡。開始填寫FAFSA或加利福尼亞夢想法案申請，這將有助於確定您是否有資格接受財務援助。幸運的是，今年的截止日期已延期至9月5日，為您多提供一個週末來申請。

作為第一代美國人和學生成功的倡導者，我知道有人在身邊指導您找到合適的課程並且避免浪費時間是非常有幫助的。特別是當您在育兒、工作或其他責任與大學學業之間來回忙碌時，感到不知所措是很正常的。作為加州社區學院的臨時副校長，我可以告訴您：我們能為您提供支持。加州社區學院現在收到了州政府撥款，可以在您重返校園之時為您提供專門的大學就讀指南。

成為社區學院的學生沒有所謂的合適年齡或生活情況。您不需要有高學分或優秀的考試成績；擁有比大學學分更多的生活經驗也是可以的；即使您內心還有些自我否定，您仍然會受到歡迎。這裡是您的歸屬——畢竟，您就是社區學院中這個「社區」的一員。

有些課程只需幾個月，而其他的則可能需要一年或兩年，但最終的經濟效益非常明顯——上社區學院很值得。社區學院的畢業生賺更多的錢、財務更穩定、身體更健康，並且他們更有可能讓自己的孩子上大學。這就是為什麼加利福尼亞設立了這些有價值的機構——總共116所，也是為什麼數百萬的朋友、鄰居和家人都前來就讀。所以，為什麼不加入他們，為自己和更光明的未來投資呢？時不我待，現在就行動。今天就訪問www.ICanGoToCollege.com來獲取更多有關如何為您和家人創造更美好未來的訊息。