Student Spotlight: Brianna

Jul 18
3 min read

Growing up I always dreamed of going to a 4-year university, but after “high school” God had other plans. I put high school in quotes because I didn’t end up graduating high school until I was 27 years old and had just had my fourth child. My mom died from Melanoma skin cancer when I was six and I ended up in the foster care system at a young age. I now attribute this difficult childhood to molding me into the resilient and determined woman I am today.

During my high school years, I was in foster care and was constantly changing foster homes and high schools before I became so discouraged, I dropped out altogether. I knew I was smart and my grades, when I did attend and try, gave me confidence in my intelligence. But my personal life was always so chaotic that I had to focus on just surviving over my education.

"I have made it my life’s purpose to succeed and show my children that anything is possible no matter what, if they’re willing to do WHATEVER IT TAKES!"

After (finally) getting my high school diploma, the homeless shelter where I was staying asked me what I wanted to do with my life. I had completed the required paperwork for my divorce a few years earlier, and so I told my case worker that I wanted to be a paralegal. This led to my dream of attending a four-year university becoming a reality.

I attended Irvine Valley College for Paralegal Studies and was on the Dean’s list every semester while completing the Paralegal certificate program. I transferred to Cal State Fullerton and received my Bachelor’s degree in Political Science in December of 2020. However, once I had completed the Paralegal program at IVC, my career goals changed and I no longer wanted to be a paralegal; now I want to be a lawyer!

The pandemic hit during my last semesters at CSUF and I really struggled with my own educational goals while also trying to succeed at being a single mom. I had just overcome the anxiety and panic attacks I was having my first couple of semesters and then a pandemic hit. Going to a university while being a single mom of three kids was the hardest thing I’ve ever done, and the biggest accomplishment of my life, so far anyway!

I wrote above that I have four kids; however, I lost custody of my kids in 2012 while I was in an abusive relationship. My youngest daughter was put up for adoption when she was 2 years old. I haven’t seen her in 8 years. Eventually, I was able to gain full-time custody of my older 2 children, and also have another child.

I have made it my life’s purpose to succeed and show my children that anything is possible no matter what, if they’re willing to do WHATEVER IT TAKES! I hope that when she’s older and I am reunited with my daughter, that she’ll know that her mom became a lawyer to make her and her siblings proud of what she overcame and to become an inspiration to each of them.

I am currently working as a legal assistant at a personal injury law firm in Fountain Valley and I’m happy that I’m still working towards my career goals. I am blessed that my employer supports my dream to attend grad school and will work around my schedule to obtain my Master’s degree. I am eager to expand my knowledge of political science and I am excited and can’t wait to see where I end up. Hopefully, with a CSUF Bachelor’s and a Master’s degrees hanging on the wall of my own law firm!!