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From dream to reality

Carmen Zenteno following her children to CSUB commencement stage

By California State University, Bakersfield

April 24^th, 2023

For much of her life, California State University, Bakersfield student Carmen Zenteno was unsure whether she would ever be able to get a four-year degree.

After completing a short community college experience more than 30 years ago, she put her plans for further education on hold so she could focus on raising and home-schooling her two children, Alexis and Ryan. By 2017, both of her children were adults and she found that she now had time to go back to school.

“I’ve always pushed the importance of education on my children, and this was an opportunity for me not just to push it on them to but for me to set that example myself,” she said.

This May, Zenteno — who lives in Lancaster and attended the Antelope Valley campus (CSUB AV) — will be graduating with a bachelor’s degree in liberal studies as well as her teaching credential.

“It’s very exciting,” she said. “I’m really happy that this opportunity came along, that it was something where I was able to accomplish this dream. It really is a dream I’ve always had.”

Zenteno won’t be the only CSUB grad in the family. Both of her children have graduated with bachelor’s degrees from the university. Alexis graduated first, in 2018, followed by Ryan — her youngest — in 2022.

“We’re a CSU Bakersfield family. It’s really cool,” Alexis said. “I got to be the first one going through, so it’s like I got to welcome them into this shared experience, even though we didn’t all go at the same time. That’s been really neat.”

Zenteno may not have attended CSUB if not for her daughter. Alexis began pushing her mother to go back to college after her brother finished high school in 2017.

“I wanted to motivate her and help her as much as I could, because she had always wanted to go back to school,” she said. “My mom has given her whole life to us. She has dedicated everything to us. It’s one way for me to give back and give her a chance invest in her future and in herself.”

Zenteno decided to listen to her daughter’s advice and enrolled at Antelope Valley College (AVC). She was nervous at first about how she would fare returning to education after such a long absence. She often found herself to be older than her fellow students and even many of her professors.

“They were all very respectful, so it felt good,” Zenteno said. “My only major challenges were trying to keep up with the coursework and adjusting to how college worked. Things change after 30 years, but it was definitely a positive experience.”

Zenteno was able to take many classes with her son Ryan at AVC, as they both enrolled at the college at the same time.

“I thought he would be uncomfortable with me taking classes with him, but he didn’t seem to mind at all,” she said.

Ryan, who graduated from CSUB with a bachelor’s in criminal justice and is now pursuing his master’s at Southern New Hampshire University, enjoyed getting to bond with his mom during that time.

“It was honestly a lot of fun,” he said. “We’ve always had a close relationship, so it felt like we were two best friends going through classes together. It was great having someone who was going through the same things I was. It was a great experience.”

Zenteno said the time she spent at AVC with her son was one of the best experiences of her educational journey.

“I knew it was a rare opportunity. It’s definitely something I will always appreciate and remember,” she said.

Alexis Zenteno, middle, is shown with her mother, Carmen, and brother, Ryan, after graduating from CSUB in 2018.

‘A huge benefit to the whole community’

Zenteno went on to earn associate degrees at AVC in liberal studies as well as social and behavioral sciences in 2019. She then decided to move forward with her education and subsequently enrolled at CSUB AV.

“It has been great at CSUB,” she said. “What helped a lot was the availability of Zoom classes and having a satellite campus where I don’t have to drive. I have my responsibilities here at home. I have a mom that I take care of. It would have been a lot tougher for me to go to the main campus, but because it was available here, I was able to take the classes I needed.”

Alexis initially planned to attend CSUB AV in 2016, but she learned she would have to commute from Lancaster to the main campus in Bakersfield to attend the classes she needed for her communications degree.

“It was a big decision on whether I should stick with it and go to main campus or change my major to something the satellite campus offered, but I couldn’t give up my major,” Alexis said.

Alexis persevered, despite the challenges of commuting to the Bakersfield campus four days a week, and went on to earn her bachelor’s in communications with a concentration in public relations in 2018.

“CSUB is fantastic. I love the school, and I loved the coursework,” she said.

Alexis obtained her master’s at CSU Northridge and currently works as a tutor through the company Upswing, which provides support services to non-traditional and underserved students.

While she ultimately didn’t attend CSUB AV, Alexis believes it is a great resource for the community.

“I think the school itself, and the satellite campus in particular, is a huge benefit to the whole community,” she said. “The proximity of it really reduces a lot of questions and doubts for students.”

A passion for teaching

After meeting all the requirements at CSUB AV for her bachelor’s, Zenteno went directly into a one-year teaching credential program.

Zenteno has long had a passion for teaching. In addition to home-schooling her kids, she has also been heavily involved as a volunteer for her church’s children’s ministry, teaching Sunday School and overseeing many of the kids’ events and activities put on by her church.

Zenteno has also volunteered at local schools as an SAT proctor and other roles.

“I was always told that I was really good at teaching,” she said. “I do like being around kids and making them feel noticed and wanted. I really feel it’s something that kids need and don’t always get, to be seen, to be noticed. When they feel good, it makes me feel good.”

Zenteno knew coming into CSUB that she wanted to get a teaching credential, but she initially struggled with the program.

“I felt a little lost at first. I didn’t feel prepared,” she said. “I had this imposter syndrome of ‘do I really belong here? Do I have what it takes?’ I did get discouraged, but my daughter was always there to push me to keep going.”

Zenteno was placed in a kindergarten class at Sunnydale Elementary in Lancaster during her first semester. While the time she got to spend with students in the classroom was her favorite part of the credential program, having class time be limited to just two days a week that first semester was frustrating for her.

“Going twice a week doesn’t let you really learn the routine. You always feel like you’re kind of in the starting block,” she said.

Zenteno has felt much more confident in her teaching abilities this semester, in which she was placed in a fourth-grade class at Monte Vista Elementary.

“In this second semester, I’ve been able to be in the classroom on daily basis. I feel like I formed a relationship with the kids now, and it’s more of a co-teaching atmosphere,” she said.

Carmen Zenteno, middle, is shown with her daughter Alexis and son Ryan.

'A rare and once-in-a-lifetime opportunity'

Alexis is anticipating seeing her mom go up on stage during commencement next month and receive her diploma.

“I’m so excited and proud of her. I knew she could accomplish this,” she said. “It’s the culmination of a lot of work.”

Ryan said he is amazed by what his mom has been able to accomplish, especially since she’s been able to juggle both her school and home responsibilities.

“It blows my mind, because I’m struggling with just having to worry about school,” he said.

Both Alexis and Ryan bought CSUB sweatshirts with their graduation year after they received their degrees, and soon their mother will be part of the tradition.

“We have hers waiting for after the ceremony, and then she will wear it proudly,” Ryan said. “I’m just beyond blessed and happy that all three of us got to do this. Even though we are all moving on to different things, it’s great that we have that unifying background.”

Zenteno agrees and is excited to be able to soon join her children as a CSUB graduate.

“This is something special that is a rare and once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” she said. “Not only is being a college graduate something I thought had passed me by, but sharing this experience with my kids has made the entire journey that much more unique and worth it.”

Zenteno hopes to become a full-time teacher but still wants to continue her education and get her master’s. While she admits that might be ambitious, given her responsibilities at home, she feels her experience at CSUB AV has set her up for future success.

“It made all the difference having a satellite campus here. I don’t think I would have gone to CSUB otherwise, so it’s made getting my degree so much more possible for me,” she said.