Turning Opportunity into Impact
For Desisree, education has always been about more than earning a degree. It has been a way to create opportunities for herself, support her family, and ultimately help others do the same. From navigating college as a first-generation student to earning a master’s degree from Harvard and pursuing a Ph.D., Dessiree’s journey is one of determination, service, and the belief that every student deserves access to higher education.
Building a Foundation
Growing up in Orange County, Dessiree always knew college was part of her future. Raised by a single mother who immigrated to the United States, she understood early on that education could open doors for both herself and her family.
“I’ve always been very focused on my academics,” Dessiree says. “I knew getting good grades and focusing on school was going to help better my life and help my mom.”
During her senior year of high school, Dessiree joined Reality Changers. While she already planned to attend college, she quickly realized there was much more to the application process than she had expected.
“The biggest help was learning how to write personal statements, understanding financial aid, and being able to explain everything to my mom,” she recalls. “The fee waivers were huge too. Back then, I couldn’t afford to apply to multiple schools.”
Finding Her Path
Like many first-generation students, Dessiree entered college with one vision for her future, only to discover a different passion along the way.
She enrolled at California State University, East Bay, originally intending to study biology and become a doctor. But after realizing science was not the right fit, she switched her major to psychology, a decision that would ultimately shape her career.
Outside the classroom, Dessiree immersed herself in campus life. Through student government, she advocated for policy changes, developed new initiatives, and discovered an entirely new profession.
“I realized student affairs was an actual career,” she says. “I’ve always loved helping people, and I saw that I could make that my full-time job.”
Her involvement also taught her valuable lessons about leadership and creating change.
“As a student, you’re passionate about fixing problems right away,” she explains. “Now that I’ve worked on the professional side, I understand there’s so much happening behind the scenes. Change takes collaboration, communication, and patience.”
Taking a Chance on Herself
As graduation approached, Dessiree decided to apply to graduate school. She submitted applications to five graduate schools, including one she never expected to attend: Harvard University Graduate School of Education.
“I honestly applied just to see what would happen,” she laughs. “Someone told me applying was like buying a lottery ticket. You’ll never know unless you try.”
Working at Starbucks at the time, Dessiree picked up extra shifts to cover the application fees. When the acceptance email finally arrived, she was moments away from another graduate school interview.
“I checked my portal right before the interview and found out I got into Harvard,” she recalls. “At that point I thought, ‘It doesn’t get better than this.'”
Moving to Massachusetts was both exciting and intimidating. Many of her classmates had attended Ivy League schools or already had years of professional experience, while Dessiree had come directly from a smaller California State University.
“I definitely experienced imposter syndrome,” she says. “But eventually I found my community through the Latinx student group and student government. Someone reminded me, ‘You earned your place here. Your application got you in just like everyone else’s.’ That really stayed with me.”
Turning Knowledge into Purpose
Today, Dessiree works at the USC Office of Academic Integrity as an Academic Integrity Coordinator. While the role has given her valuable experience applying what she learned in graduate school, she is already thinking about her next chapter.
Her goal is to earn a Ph.D. in education, focusing her research on the emotional well-being, family dynamics, and long term academic success of mixed status families. These are students who are U.S. citizens or DACA recipients with immigrant parents.
“I think education should be accessible for everybody, regardless of immigration status,” Dessiree says. “With everything happening right now, this is exactly the right time to study these issues and advocate for my community.”
RECONNECTING WITH REALITY CHANGERS
Years after graduating from Reality Changers, Dessiree reconnected with the organization while preparing her Ph.D. applications. Looking for someone to review her personal statements, she reached out through the alumni network and found exactly the support she needed.
“It reminded me that Reality Changers is still there, even years later,” she says. “It’s not just a high school program. It’s a lifelong community.”
Today, she is grateful for the role the organization played in her journey and hopes more students will have access to the same opportunities.
“I went to a well-resourced high school, but low-income students like me were often overlooked because people assumed we already had the support we needed,” Dessiree reflects. “Reality Changers showed me that college was accessible. There are so many students who just need someone to show them how to get there.”
Opening Doors for Others
Looking back, Dessiree sees every step of her journey, from switching majors to taking a chance on Harvard, as preparation for helping others succeed.
Her story is a reminder that higher education is not simply about earning degrees. It is about creating opportunities, building community, and making sure the next generation has the guidance to dream even bigger.
“I’ve always wanted to give back,” Dessiree says. “If I can help students realize that college is possible for them, then everything I’ve experienced has been worth it.”
This blog was written by Volunteer Storyteller Victoria A. Sanchez.
