Bryanne Salazar Windward Community College A new start; a new world of opportunities

Bryanne Salazar says that she stresses to her 8 and 10 year old sons how important college is. She wants them to have the opportunity for an education that she never had.

Salazar states that she never finished high school. She said, “ I never knew anyone who had been to college. I just assumed that college would never be in my future”.

Like other Marine Corp dependants, Salazar deals with stresses of her husband being deployed, raising two children alone, and adjusting to the cost of living in Hawaii. “One day I was so frustrated with my efforts to find a job. My only work experience was in customer service. When I called my best friend for advice, she asked me why I was not in school.”

Salazar spoke of her fear of coming to school, as well as her hurried steps to get for the fall 2007 semester. She explained how counselors at the Marine Corp Base Hawaii, Joint Education Center, and the WCC advisor on base helped her develop a college plan. Within a week, she was registering for classes at WCC.

Salazar says, “It’s amazing - I registered for 16 credits, I am volunteering on campus, and even won the drawing for free tuition at the Welcome Week event.”

“This is what I have been wanting for years, to get on the right track. I have a goal and I am a college student. I am 32 years old and I am finally found my chance to be successful.”

Salazar says that she wants to write fiction and novels, and that she has started on her first novel. She is interested in religion, philosophy, and the Middle East. Salazar says, “I want to write about life experience, humanity, love, and our common bonds.”

Salazar will be writing for the Rainbird in Spring, 2008. You might see her on campus almost any day as she studies, tutors other students, and finds an inspiring corner of the campus to write.