Growing up, Bonnie Chi was captivated by the night sky and remembers looking up at the stars with wonder and curiosity. She even recorded her observations and dove into astronomical topics, sparking a lifelong passion that eventually led her to DVC to turn that fascination into a future career.
“I wanted to learn more and study everything I possibly could about the sky, space and the stars, and so I chose to major in physics with a concentration on astronomy.”
But Bonnie did not start her college journey so clearly or with such passion. She had previously enrolled at DVC for a different major and says that time in her life was personally difficult, especially during her first term.
“It wasn’t a success for many personal reasons,” she recalls. “The most significant was losing my mother. Not long after, I fell ill myself. After going through depression and loss, I didn’t think school was the right path for me. I didn’t feel that I could handle being a student, but I am so glad I took a leap of faith and gave it another try.”
Several years later, that leap turned into a new beginning. Bonnie rekindled her lifelong passion for astronomy and began exploring ways to deepen her knowledge. That’s when DVC reentered the picture.
“After looking into DVC's programs, I discovered they had an observatory and planetarium on campus. That was the deciding factor for me.”
Yet returning to college after several years felt daunting for Bonnie. She reflects that even getting started again was difficult and took courage.
“I was hesitant, especially about studying math and science—I’d always been nervous about those subjects,” she says. “But one day I thought, maybe I am smart enough to give it a shot. And I’m so glad I did.”
Since returning, Bonnie has pushed through both academic pressure and personal challenges. What kept her going was the strong sense of community at DVC and the support she found along the way.
“I have found DVC's campuses, staff and resources to be wonderful. It feels like such a safe place to be taking your first steps in a new direction. DVC truly feels precious to me, as these kinds of safe and welcoming environments are very hard to find.”
Bonnie especially credits DVC astronomy professor Jean Chiar for helping her achieve more than she ever imagined. With Dr. Chiar’s encouragement and support, Bonnie landed a paid internship at the SETI Institute and a campus job as an astronomy tutor.
“If not for her, I wouldn’t have had the confidence to apply,” Bonnie says. “That first step gave me the courage to pursue even more opportunities. She taught me so much and helped me secure solid first steps on my path to success.”
Today, Bonnie is thriving as an academic honors student and the recipient of two scholarships: the Bernard Osher Scholarship and the Women’s Reentry Scholarship from the National Council of Jewish Women.
What’s next on the horizon for this bright star? Bonnie looks forward to a summer research trip to the Lick Observatory and a future goal of transferring to study astrophysics.
Inspired by Bonnie’s journey? If she can reach for the stars, so can you!
Learn more about DVC's astronomy program and start down your own path today.
