Luz Jimenez' story

Luz Jimenez, a sophomore at Fullerton College, was nominated for the Women of Distinction and won the Female Scholar Athlete of the Year Award. 

She wears the pin now, and shares her FC story with everyone she meets.

She started her journey with the Women’s Tennis Team, her brother Rudy Jimenez studied here and played tennis for the team as well, so she made the decision of coming here first, and later transfer to a 4-year university.

What she likes about Fullerton College is that it is open to diversity, “From the high school graduates, people that stayed after getting their degrees and the ones that come back, as well as international students, you learn different perspectives,” said Jimenez, “it opens your eyes to see that everyone is trying as hard as you are.”

                                                              Alex Avina,The Hornet

Strong backhand: Luz Jimenez playing for the Fullerton College Women's Tennis Team                                                                                                                               

She received small scholarships from her Villa Park High School and her church to enter Fullerton and was able to enter Fullerton College. For her, FC is a family, “I heard that other Community Colleges are not as ‘warm’, here people are friendly, willing to help,” said Jimenez.

Jimenez wanted to be involved in as many activities as possible. When she was a freshman she was accepted in the Honors Program, where classes are more challenging, personalized and require a certain high GPA from the student. She took one Economics class during her first year.

She majored in Architecture at first, and found really helpful teachers like Dr. Morgan and Dr. Thomas along the way. “They helped me with the process of planning the right classes so I would use my time efficiently,” Jimenez said.

She also was part of Project GPS, that helps student get involved with the field of their interest, in areas like Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math. Hands-on acitvities and counselors helped her set and keep a goal in mind and narrow down her possibilities. After a year being part of the project she changed her major to Engineering Physics.

Now, Jimenez tutors other students that want to be in the project. They were just getting started with the project when she joined them: “I grew with them,” said Jimenez.

“I love FC, I really do. There are many resources, everyone is able to succeed if they are willing to put the effort, here everyone is taken care of,” said Jimenez

When Jimenez transfers, she wants to get involved in athletics too, like tennis or rowing to keep herself active.  Two of her teachers, in Math and Physics, wrote letters of recommendation for Loyola Marymount University and Santa Clara University, two of her transfer choices.

Jimenez will graduate by the end of Spring 2010, but she takes wonderful memories with her. “You’re on your own as an individual but you also influence and inspire students."

One las thought from her:  "Even if you want to, you can’t really rely on anyone since each one is following their own path” said Jimenez , “people come and go and you can only take the amazing experiences and memories that were shared with them.”