Generational Success: Grandmother and Grandson Find Common Ground and Thrive at DVC

Nov 20, 2023

Even though Manny and Martha had different reasons for attending college at different life stages, this grandson and grandmother duo are thriving at DVC. While Manny chose DVC after high school to study computer science, Martha entered college later in life to fulfill a new dream.

Martha recalls wanting to get into something fun and challenging, which led her to look into returning to school. She met with a DVC counselor who asked her about her hobbies and interests. When Martha mentioned baking, and was introduced to DVC’s culinary program, that’s where the excitement began.

As a diabetic, Martha feels she often misses out when going to pastry and coffee shops. “I can never really find anything for me. So, with a baking career, I want to be able to bake delicious, healthy items that are diabetes friendly. And have options for those who choose not to have sugar or those that cannot.”

For Manny, the choice to attend DVC looked different as a high school senior navigating school during the pandemic. “I wanted to go straight to a four-year, but COVID changed all that. So, I decided to get my AS in computer science at DVC and then transfer to a four-year to get my bachelor's degree.”

But for these family members, starting college wasn’t always easy. Manny was adjusting to online learning during the pandemic and Martha was facing fears of returning to school decades later as an adult learner.

“I've always liked in-person classes, it’s a better learning style for me. I'm a very extroverted person,” says Manny. “COVID threw me out of balance. It was very hard for me.”

And Martha was nervous about being able to keep up in her classes. “I haven't been to school in 40 plus years and when I went to my first class, the very next day I was ready to quit,” she says. But Martha’s first professor was very encouraging and helped her through her course. “She just kept telling me, you can do this. You can do this. You can do this!”

Both Manny and Martha love DVC and are inspired to succeed in their studies. “I really enjoy the professors that I’ve had. I love their teaching methods and they make me feel comfortable in class. The teachers are amazing,” says Martha.

And for Manny, the diversity and community at DVC is an important part of his experience. “I love all the different kinds of people I can find on campus. Plus, there's all different kinds of student centers and learning communities. It's just so fun and engaging that we can be a part of so many different things.”

Manny joined DVC’s PRIDE learning community and has enjoyed having support at this stage of his college journey. “I have Professor Patrick Moe as a mentor. He helped me join Community of Pride and helped me learn more about DVC as a new student.”

From an early age Manny has been interested in computers and how they work. By the time he got to high school, he was hooked. “All through high school I was coding and working on computers and just fell in love with it.” Now, a computer science major at DVC, he hopes to transfer to continue his studies and ultimately earn a master’s degree in computer engineering and software development.

Even though Manny and Martha have commonalities as students, such as helpful professors and as they joked, “lots of homework”, they also see some unique differences.

For Martha, learning Canvas was challenging. “It was hard, but my grandkids kept saying, Grandma, you can do this. You got this. So, I got a lot of support from my grandkids, and they were able to navigate me through the platform.”

And while Manny loves keeping organized with his iPad at school, Martha feels more comfortable writing things down and keeping separate notebooks for her classes.

“I use my iPad for everything! Scheduling, class notes, studying, etc. I prefer everything to be digital,” says Manny.

“I have an iPad, but don’t use it, I can’t connect to it; I like my notebooks and to see things I can highlight with a highlighter and prefer that. We’re both very organized, but just in different ways,” Martha adds.

While those differences exist, it doesn’t keep them from supporting each other. "I make sure he does his homework and I encourage him to go to the library with me to study and to stay on track,” Martha says.

And Manny feels inspired by his grandmother to do his best. “Her first two semesters she got straight A’s, so now I have to keep up with her, so in that way, she kind of keeps me on my toes,” says Manny.

When asked what advice Martha gave Manny about starting college, she said she tells all her grandchildren they need to go to school after high school. “I’ve always encouraged them to choose a career that they’ll be happy with and don’t just go to school because you have to go, go because you want to go.”

So, what advice do Martha and Manny have for prospective students? Martha suggests it’s never too late. “No matter what age, if you have a desire for learning, just go for it. Yes, it will be hard and challenging, but it’s a good kind of challenge. I would totally recommend DVC and I’ve been very happy here.”

And for Manny, the variety of support services offered at DVC makes it a great choice. “One thing that helps me a lot is all the tutoring centers. I didn’t see anywhere else where I could get that kind of tutoring and for free!” Manny adds that having easy-to-access assistance is key. “If you need someone to talk to, the service is there for you; if you need help with a subject or class, they will be there to help you. That’s what I love about DVC.”

Don’t just take their word for it, see what DVC can do for you. Get started today! www.dvc.edu/apply

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Generational Success: Grandmother and Grandson Find Common Ground and Thrive at DVC