Alexandria Leonard

VICTORIA PENA

Kassandra Medeiros | Staff Writer kmedeiros87@bristolcc.edu

Victoria Pena, 31, is an animated, bubbly wife and mother. She’s also graduating from general studies health science at Bristol Community College during a global pandemic that makes it one of the most difficult times for the major she chose. She eagerly shares some of her experiences here at Bristol.

Pena has big plans for her future in the medical field. She hopes to become a certified nursing midwife. “I love babies! I love pregnant women! I do! And their bellies, they’re just so cute! I want to help bring in new life,” Pena says.

Pena had an exceptional time here at Bristol. She got really close with her classmates, and enjoyed a very welcoming, family-like teaching staff. “The teachers were a huge help, they did the best they could whether (using) email, private calls or through Zoom,” she says.

The pandemic became a huge challenge to her schooling, as she had to transition to being confined to her home along with her two children, ages 2 and 10. Trying to get her schoolwork done, while also being a mom and helping her oldest daughter with virtual learning, has been a lot to navigate.

Her husband, Martin, also contributed long hard hours of supporting Pena on late night homework and “cry” sessions.

All those long nights and “thousands of tears” have paid off. Pena has been accepted into the nursing program and will return to Bristol in the fall to further her studies and get one step closer to becoming a certified midwife.

Victoria Pena | Photo by Kassandra Medeiros

“I always had a calling to take care of people, so I became a medical assistant and then I realized that wasn’t enough. The pandemic hit and I really just wanted to do more.”

ALEXANDRIA LEONARD

ALEXANDRIA LEONARD

Kassandra Medeiros | Staff Writer kmedeiros87@bristolcc.edu

In a sunny courtyard next to New Bedford’s Bristol campus, a vibrantly pink-haired, 23-year-old, Alexandria Leonard sits. Graduating this year, she shares her struggles, her passions and her fight to graduation.

Q: What’s your name, age and major?

Alexandria Leonard, 23. Right now, it’s liberal arts and social behavioral sciences, but I’m transferring to UMASS Dartmouth in psychology.

Q: Did you take a gap year ever?

A: Well. Yes, I graduated in 2015. In 2015 I came here and dropped out my first semester. (Leonard giggles.) And then I came back in 2018.

Q: What do you expect to do after you graduate?

A: I’m still thinking about it. So, my passion is psychology, so definitely something in psychology. I’ve always wanted to work with something with adolescence and mental health. But right now, I’m working in substance abuse with adults, and … I kind of love it! So I don’t know if I wanna stay in substance abuse or go to mental health. With substance abuse and mental health it’s both of them so you’re dealing with both. And I definitely have experience in both. So, I feel like I can relate more and help people more because I’ve been there.

Q: Do you mind elaborating more on that?

A: No. So, I had a journey with addiction. It started when I was 14, and I actually overdosed a few times. I had to go to crisis centers and facilities. And I had my own journey with mental health. I was clean for a few years, and then in 2017, my dad died. And I just kind of went through a really dark path, and I experimented with substances I really never experienced before and kind of just didn’t care about my life. I ended up having a really bad health scare, and I thought I was going to die. So I quit everything - cold turkey. And It will be four years in August. So ever since then, I really want to help people.

Q: Wow. So that’s what helped fuel your love for psychology, right?

A: Yeah. So, even as a teenager, I knew I wanted to do something in psychology because of my history with mental health, but when I recovered from addiction, I wanted to help people because… obviously you can help people if you have never had an experience, but it’s not the same.

And the place I work at I don’t like the place, but I like the job. When clients leave, and they hug me and cry and say “thank

you for everything,” it makes me think, wow, this is why I do this.

So now that I started this job, this is why I started it because I wanted to tell my story because they are there and they think, “Oh, I’m not going to amount to nothing. I’m never going to get a good job. I cant do anything.” YES YOU CAN! I’m here and I’m 23-years-old. And sometimes I get embarrassed when they ask me, “Oh, what kind of drugs did you do?” At first, I’m like... (Leonard makes a sour face.)

...but sometimes it’s just to be nosey, and sometimes it’s just to know, like genuine.

Q: What got you through, just being a student, you know?

A: Maaaannn! Its been a tough journey but even now my virtual ceremony is tomorrow. I’m disappointed in myself a little bit because I’m not getting my diploma until September because I have to retake a couple classes, but I think the motivation level roller coaster I have will be high and then low, and sometimes I’ll want to give up, but then I think about what I just told you and I think about my dad. And I think about how I’m going to be going to the same school he went to next year.

Q: Wow what a little … like propeller to keep you going, huh?

A: Yeah! So, I I just think about him because when he was alive I was like a crappy kid, so I want to make him proud. So, it’s another reason I’m trying to push through it and get there, and get my master’s. So, I can do that and help more people.

Q: What’s your dream job?

A: I think I want to be a therapist, but like a substance abuse counselor, and I really see myself hosting recovery meetings in the future, but I have to get good at talking in front of people first though.

Q: Yeah! Haha! I can give you pointers.

A: Yeah, haha! Like I get so freaked out, but then I’m doing it, and I’m, wow, this isn’t even that bad.

Q: You have to walk up like you already know them!

A: Yeah, like confidence is key.

And like that I had made a fast friend and learned a lot of valuable lessons I will never forget in 8 minutes. This story will stick with me for the rest of my days, and keep me going on in my hardest ones. As I hope it will for whoever reads this.

Thank you to Alexandria Leonard for sharing her incredible story.