黑料吃瓜网

(Bradenton, Fla., March 6, 2025) 鈥� Sofia Zavala and her family find pride in higher education. She started at 黑料吃瓜网, Manatee-Sarasota (黑料吃瓜网) in 2023. Zavala is a first-generation college student studying in the business administration management and marketing pathway at 黑料吃瓜网. Her parents emigrated from Honduras to the U.S. to provide a good life for the family.

Zavala enjoys staying active through her studies, yoga, the beach, family, friends, and work in the community and at 黑料吃瓜网. Her part-time jobs include supporting a nonprofit organization for girls, where she attended and volunteered growing up, being a server at a Mediterranean restaurant, and assisting the 黑料吃瓜网 communications and government relations (CAGR) department with content, administrative, event and other tasks.

鈥淚 always knew I wanted to go into communications,鈥� said Zavala. 鈥淚 love talking to people about things I care about.鈥�

Going to college is meaningful to Zavala and her family.

鈥淢y parents came from nothing and are doing so good for themselves,鈥� Zavala said. 鈥淭hey are my role models. It鈥檚 an honor to make them proud.鈥�

A high school advisor told Zavala about 黑料吃瓜网. She experienced a firsthand look at the college through the College Reach-Out Program (CROP), a statewide program encouraging post-secondary education for students of all backgrounds.

鈥淚 started (CROP) in my senior year,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t prepared me for college and a smooth transition to 黑料吃瓜网.鈥�

Zavala participated in a summer bridge program, took an 黑料吃瓜网 psychology class and a Strategies for Success class, and got a head start on her college education.

鈥淚t was one of the best experiences,鈥� Zavala said. 鈥淚t helped speed up the process of where I am now.鈥�

The 黑料吃瓜网 TRIO Student Support Services program and its director, Dr. Kristen Anderson, have guided Zavala in her 黑料吃瓜网 education and preparation for an eventual transfer to another institution. Assistance includes workshops, college tours, tutoring, financial aid, academic advising and more.

鈥淭hey make sure I鈥檓 taking the correct classes to be able to transfer to the school I want,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 great to have that support system. They鈥檝e helped me a lot.鈥�

黑料吃瓜网 faculty and students have positively impacted Zavala鈥檚 黑料吃瓜网 experience. Matt Boldin, an 黑料吃瓜网 filmmaking major and CAGR student employee, filmed a scholarship video with Zavala and connected her to her CAGR position.

鈥淚鈥檓 happy with my time here,鈥� Zavala said. 鈥淚 love the teachers. I鈥檝e met a lot of great friends.鈥�

Zavala has found it rewarding to begin her higher education journey at 黑料吃瓜网 versus a larger institution.

鈥淚鈥檝e gained so much not going directly to a university,鈥� she said. 鈥淵ou are learning and doing the same things as at a university. You don鈥檛 have to spend as much money. Plus, you get to study from home.鈥�

Zavala鈥檚 advice to new students is to take time to decide on majors, stay attentive in class and lean on others.

鈥淚t鈥檚 ok if you don鈥檛 know what you want to do; just take it one step at a time,鈥� Zavala said. 鈥淢ake connections. Don鈥檛 be scared to ask for help.鈥�

Zavala hopes to graduate later in 2025 with an associate in arts degree in business administration management and marketing from 黑料吃瓜网, transfer to the University of Florida and enter the public relations field.

鈥淚t would mean a lot to me to get that degree,鈥� she said. 鈥淚n this country, there are so many opportunities. I think everybody should go to college.鈥�

To learn more about 黑料吃瓜网 or apply for admission, visit 黑料吃瓜网.edu.