PAC Student Media

By Devon Bates 
Pulse Staff Reporter

Many people have experienced adversity in their lives. Oftentimes, situations seem uncontrollable and traumatizing, but solutions are always available.

Although adversity might be difficult to control, it will always be part of our lives; it’s important to accept it and seek solutions from inspirational resources. 

Bryanna Munguia, A Psychology major and sophomore at Palo Alto College, is facing problems. Her parents threw her out of her own home at the age of 19. It was difficult to cope with life and balance the challenges of her education. She pulled herself up and committed to balancing school and taking care of her younger brothers. Considering that she was a cancer patient, she thought she would lose hope in life. Instead, she maintained her confidence in life by working as a caterer for both family and medical expenses. 

Sandy Carroll, a Criminal Justice major and sophomore at Palo Alto College, went through something similar to Munguia. Carroll decided to go back to school to support her family, husband and son when she learned she was being medically discharged from the Army after 26 years as a Staff Sargent. She didn’t know what else to do but to continue her higher education.

“It feels great because I’m completing my goals. I’d never thought I would get through. It has improved my self-confidence so well that I am now doing well in my classes,” Caro said.

She enjoys serving others and dealing with PTSD, depression and anxiety. She volunteers her time because she cares so much about the public and their well-being.

It is the confidence in people that builds them stronger to overcome any obstacles that hinder their journey forward. This principle is factual because perseverance shapes the mind, body and soul to cope with any challenge and triumph over it. 

Roy Jimenez, a Liberal Arts major and sophomore at Northwest Vista College who is a work-study at Palo Alto College, isn’t surprised. When he was diagnosed with cancer in 2016, he was shocked, scared and didn’t know what to do. He knew that we only live once, and he wanted to prove to people that we can always improve ourselves and follow our dreams. Since beating the disease, his perseverance has opened so many doors for him, making friends and getting involved in clubs/organizations.

“Go after your dreams. Even when life throws you down, always get back up and have a goal set aside,” said Jimenez.

It makes him feel really good inside. Before his cancer scare, he was shy and never wanted to do anything.

“Never lose faith. Don’t give up. Keep on pushing forward. If you think positive, good things will happen!” Jimenez said.

People can overcome adversity by learning from others. The World Wide Web is full of articles that explain the difficult journeys experienced by successful people. The stories are not only inspiring, but they also teach a lot of ways to tackle the challenges of life. Adversity has a way of shaping and defining people. It makes people stronger and helps them learn to deal with life. Whether we accept it or not, adversity is inevitable.

The S.H.A.R.E. Center located at Palo Alto College in the Student Center, Room 101, provides a variety of services to students and also connects students to resources available for the community. It is open Monday from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Tuesday to Friday at 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. They provide Career Services, Community Resources, Food Pantry, Health Services, Service Learning, Counseling Services, and more. For more information, visit the S.H.A.R.E. Center or contact Carlos Cruz at (210) 486-3121 on campus for any of the services they provide.

Counseling Services are offered for students, faculty and staff. Each appointment is for one hour. All students are asked to arrive early for their appointment to complete necessary information. Student may visit counseling services on any area of focus including: Academic Performance, Dating/Loss of Relationships, Depression/Mood Swings, Time Management/Life-Planning, etc. For more information, students may schedule an appointment by calling (210) 486-3750 or visiting the office located in the Student Center.