Michelle Rodriguez worked tirelessly to get to this week. She's a 32-year-old mother of two and a first-generation college student who just completed her Cybersecurity degree. "It's been a long time coming. It's something I've wanted for a long time. I stayed focused and determined, and I'm finally here. I'm proud of myself."
A 2010 graduate of Fowler High School, Rodriguez always imagined earning a college degree, but her path to graduation was far from straightforward. She started college two or three different times over the years. Each time, life pulled her away - work, responsibilities, and raising her children. “Life happened,” she said. “I had to raise my child and start working.” But everything changed when her younger child was born. “When I had my 4-year-old, I knew I had to come back to school.”
She returned to OCC in 2022 and completed one semester before stepping away again. Balancing work and school was overwhelming. Still, she refused to let the dream die. She came back again in 2024 and never left. “It worked this time because I was older. I knew the importance of it,” she said. “When I was younger, I didn’t take it so seriously. This time it was all on me. I had to get my degree and have a better future for myself.”
Over the years, Rodriguez worked in relay services for people who are deaf or hard of hearing, customer service, office assistant positions, and at a group home. When she enrolled again, she made a decisive shift: school would come first. “I told the father of my children, ‘I have to do this.’ He’s been very supportive. I’ve been able to finish school without working.”
Originally a Criminal Justice major, Rodriguez changed course as she watched the justice system grow more unpredictable. Cybersecurity caught her attention, and she quickly found herself captivated. “Once I started learning coding and things like that, it was so interesting to me,” she said. “It’s hard, but I’m determined. I like attention to detail. And now, with technology, they need more cybersecurity people.”
Her professors played a major role in keeping her motivated. “Professor MaryPat Root is a great teacher. Her teaching methods made it easier to learn.” She also credits Criminal Justice Professor Jessica Wieczorek and many others. “There were so many teachers who helped me along the way. If it wasn’t for them staying on top of me because they knew how badly I wanted this, I wouldn’t still be here.”
She also found crucial support in the C-STEP program. “Leslie Reid and Kim Paduano are great. There were a couple of times I went through some stuff, and I was going to stop, and they said, ‘No, you’re going to do this.’ I just stuck to it, no matter how hard it got.”
One of her most meaningful experiences occurred in October when she spent the day with and introduced OCC graduate Chidera Joseph at the Alumni Faces event. Joseph overcame humble beginnings to become a Senior Digital Growth Strategist at Google. “It let me know there are people like me who might not have a 4.0 GPA or the greatest support system, and that I can do it too. She told me, ‘Don’t psyche yourself out. Don’t stick yourself in one place.’ She said to keep trying, to stay open, and reminded me that if one door closes, another will open.”
With graduation behind her, Rodriguez plans to transfer to a four-year college to earn her bachelor’s degree in Cybersecurity. She hopes her story encourages others facing setbacks of their own. “Life gets hard. We all stumble and fall. It’s okay as long as you get back up and stay motivated. Try to find that support system, people who are going to help you get through the hard times and push you forward.”
This moment represents more than a degree. It marks resilience, growth, and a promise fulfilled. “I stayed focused. I stayed determined. And I’m finally here.”
