Education Advocate: Cecelia Mendez ’AC

Even before members of the class of 2022 check in, pick up their room keys and collect their signature ivy plants, they have already made a mark as scholars, activists and entrepreneurs who bring a diversity of experiences to Smith.

This year’s entering class of 632 new students was selected from a pool of 5,780 applicants—the largest in Smith’s history. An additional 71 transfer and nontraditional-aged students will be unpacking their bags and attending orientation sessions beginning Friday, Aug. 31.

This year’s entering class includes international students from China, Canada and Rwanda—among other countries. Seven percent of new students are African American, 16 percent are Latina and 13 percent are Asian American. Fourteen percent are first generation college students.

In the first of a series of profiles of new students, Ada Comstock Scholar Cecilia Mendez shares the story of why she chose to attend Smith and what she’s looking forward to most about her first semester.

Cecilia Mendez ‘AC (at left) deferred her admission to Smith for a year so she could help Max Sanchez graduate high school in Juniper Valley, Calif.

Where home is

What I consider home is Southern California— Riverside to be exact. I have lived here my whole life. My parents were immigrants from Mexico. I was born in Riverside, and I grew up here, where over 60 percent of the population is Spanish-speaking.

Why I chose Smith

My sister works as a college counselor in Brooklyn. She heard about Smith’s Ada Comstock Scholars Program—a truly incredible program that empowers women—and told me to look into it. I visited Smith for an admission interview. Everyone was wonderful. And then I again visited campus for Discovery Weekend. I realized what an amazing opportunity it was; I didn’t want to be anywhere else but Smith.

Current project

I’m helping a young man with learning disabilities who just graduated from a local high school. I was employed by Jurupa Unified School District as a student attendant aide, and I’d been working with him for three and a half years. He was originally part of a functional skills program that focuses on life skills, and it was not a diploma-bound program. But soon I noticed that he was capable of quite a bit more, and so we began focusing on finishing high school. I deferred my first year of Smith for a year to make sure he was going to graduate high school on time—which he did this June. This fall he enters Riverside City College.

Abiding passion

Growing up bilingual, I was often an interpreter for my own parents who only spoke Spanish. I noticed the difficulties when there were language barriers, and I tried to help my parents with interactions at such places as schools, banks and hospitals. I remember doing that as young as 8 years old. And when I entered the school district as a paraprofessional employee, I noticed that it happened all the time—first-generation children having to interpret for their parents. I feel the need is very big. So I definitely want to study psychology and education as well as Spanish. My ultimate goal is to return to Riverside and work in special education as a behavioral specialist.

What I’m looking forward to the most about my first semester

The Ada Comstock program allows someone like me to take a traditional path to college. I can’t wait to experience that! I went to Riverside City College for my associate’s degree and also completed the sign language interpreting program. But I did all that while working full time. So now I am looking forward to taking in college life as simply a full-time college student. I also want to say that I really appreciate the support of my family; they’ve been encouraging me throughout my whole life. They always knew I could make it as far as I’m motivated to go.