After embracing her parents’ advice on education, Vasthy Repak earned AS and BS degrees from community colleges
Vasthy Repak’s construction worker father and homemaker mother, both of whom immigrated from Mexico, pushed their seven children to obtain the higher education they’d never themselves achieved. But Vasthy didn’t take the advice too seriously—at first.
“In high school, it really didn’t dawn on me that I needed to go to college,” says the Los Angeles native. “In my first years of high school, I only looked forward to being done with school at the age of 18 and entering the workforce.”
Without AP classes or the exams needed to apply to a four-year college, she registered at Los Angeles Harbor Community College, not knowing what she wanted to study.
Now 33, Repak has earned AS and BS degrees at community colleges and has enjoyed a successful career as a dental hygienist. Repak went on to get a master’s in social work and now works part-time as an academic counselor, guiding students to achieve their dreams. “If I could do it, you can too,” she tells them.
“Coming from a large, low-income family, attending community colleges opened many doors. That you can get a good education and obtain a BS degree at community college is a blessing.”
Vasthy Repak, West Los Angeles Community College Baccalaureate Degree Program (BDP) Graduate and Academic Counselor
Repak’s educational pathway was paved with opportunities through a degree completion program at West Los Angeles College, which now offers a Bachelor of Science in dental hygiene. The California Community Colleges and Chancellor’s Office’s Vision 2030 aims to increase the number of students who earn a BA in a California community college by 30 percent. This effort promotes equity by eliminating geographical barriers and the lack of capacity at four-year institutions, as well as providing a more affordable pathway to a higher degree.
Repak completed her AS in health sciences at Harbor Community College then transferred to West Los Angeles Community College to complete her AS degree in dental hygiene. When the college began its baccalaureate program, she completed an extra year to earn her BS.
With her degree, Repak went on to work full-time as a dental hygienist. But she aspired to do more.
“My long-term goal was to obtain a master’s, but it wasn’t until the pandemic that I realized the direction I wanted to go in,” she says. “In private practice, I mentored several high school and college patients. Many were struggling to transition back to normal life after the shutdown, mentally and academically. I realized there was a great need to help the next generation. I really enjoyed helping them.”
While working full-time, Repak took online courses at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia, and graduated with a master’s in social work. Her training brought her full circle back to West Los Angeles Community College, where she first interned and now works part-time as an academic counselor. Her training also enabled an internship in Bosnia, the country of her husband’s birth.
“I worked at United World College as a mental health counselor with students from all over the world,” she says. “It allowed me to learn of diverse cultural backgrounds and gain perspective on global social issues. I helped students cope with challenges by working with them to create plans so they could be successful in school.”
Repak’s next goal is to obtain a clinical social work license. “I understand how important it is to build trusting relationships to help students achieve their goals,” she says.
She says she owes much of her success to the California Community College system.
“Coming from a large, low-income family, attending community colleges opened many doors,” she says. “That you can get a good education and obtain a BS degree at community college is a blessing. I recommend community colleges to everyone.”
Repak says her siblings have gone on to higher education, too. “My parents motivated us to move forward and excel,” she says. “They are very proud of all of us.”
More information about California Community Colleges Baccalaureate Degree Program (BDP) and Vision 2030 can be found at the CCC Chancellor’s Office’s website at www.cccco.edu.
Written by Dorsey Griffith
| Regions | Classes & Topics |
|---|---|
| South Coast California | Careers in Health Care |
