A degree and a new baby for CSUB student

Nursing student recalls her journey to graduation

By California State University, Bakersfield

November 22^nd, 2019

Nursing student Sonia Arellano isn’t afraid of a challenge. After immigrating to the United States from Mexico at 12 years old, she later became the first in her family to get an associate degree. When she decided to further her education and earn a bachelor’s in nursing while working full time in a hospital, she knew she could do it.

And when she discovered she was pregnant shortly after learning she was accepted into CSU Bakersfield’s nursing program, she refused to let that put her dreams on hold.

“I don’t know why but when I see a big challenge, I get strength from within,” Arellano said. “I just work harder. The bigger the obstacle, the stronger I push. I don’t give up.”

Now, Arellano is finishing her final classes before fall commencement. When that time comes, she will have one more supporter in the stands: 8-month-old Noah, who has been alongside her on this journey.

In June 2017, Arellano graduated from Antelope Valley Community College with her associate degree in nursing and started working at Antelope Valley Hospital later that year. Even though she was finally a working nurse, a dream of hers since childhood, she wasn’t done with school just yet.

“I wanted to learn more,” she said. “While working at the hospital I would get students and I learned that I loved teaching. In order for me to even explore that, I would have to have a higher education. That pushed me to continue.”

The pregnancy might not have come at the most convenient time, but it was welcome news for Arellano and her husband. Married for 17 years, the couple had struggled to conceive.

“I freaked out for a second, and I remember talking to my husband and telling him maybe it was not a good idea to continue with the program, that maybe I should just quit the program and focus on the baby,” Arellano recalled. “He said ‘No, continue. We’ll make it work.’ And here I am about to graduate.”

Arellano started taking online classes for CSUB’s RN-BSN nursing program in the fall of 2018. The following spring, she and her classmates would have the entire semester to finish clinicals, the hands-on, practical education done in community health agencies. By that point, though, Arellano was entering her third trimester.

Though her professors said she could defer her clinicals to a more convenient time, Arellano decided to power through them over a month and a half, while on maternity leave from her job at Antelope Valley Hospital. In addition to the clinicals she did with her own professor, Karin Urso, Arellano also joined instructor Julia Yosef’s clinicals.

“I was going literally every day, with a big belly already,” said Arellano, who did her clinicals in Lancaster and Tehachapi. “Honestly, (Urso and Yosef) were angels. That’s how I was able to do it, because they supported me and they helped me. I am forever grateful for them.”

Urso and Yosef were impressed by Arellano’s dedication to finishing her degree on schedule and completing her clinicals in a shortened time frame.

“Sonia put in extra clinical hours in a variety of community agencies, in order to finish an astounding 135 hours before her son was born!” Urso said. “She was working full-time during this class as well but always was enthusiastic about the people in Lancaster whom she was able to help.”

Yosef agreed, saying Arellano always showed up with a smile and was receptive to whatever was presented to her in terms of hours and placement for clinicals. Yosef appreciates Arellano’s gratitude for helping her complete her requirements but wouldn’t take too much credit.

“We just opened doors, it was she who did all of the hard work in a very short period of time,” Yosef said. “She was an exemplary student!”

Another person who helped Arellano succeed was Post-Licensure Advisor Fatima Ramos. As an online student, Arellano had to make the extra effort to take advantage of campus resources. Ramos said with online programs, it can be difficult to engage with students.

“This was not the case for Sonia Arellano,” Ramos said. “Sonia would email or call when it came time to meet for an advising appointment or to complete requirements. It was always a pleasure to talk to her as she always spoke of her passion to continue her learning.

Outside of CSUB, Arellano also had the encouragement of her family. Her husband, she said, is always by her side. Her parents and brothers have also been supportive, especially her mother, who has been watching the baby while his parents work. She also mentioned friends Alma Ibarra, Sampson Ordaz and Michelle Ramos as important members of her support system.

Soon, Arellano will walk to stage to receive her diploma. One day, she will tell her son all about going to college while pregnant with him. It won’t be so he can give her credit for it, she said, but so he can understand what’s possible with perseverance.

“If you face challenges, don’t let the challenges stop you,” she said. “Utilize them as a way to push you to go higher. Because I feel my life has never been easy, so challenges usually don’t stop me.”