Ardena Carrasco's journey through the academic world has been marked by resilience and a commitment to giving back, from navigating the uncertainties unleashed by the pandemic to bridging the distance between her homeland of Mexico and the United States. As reported by EPCC News, Carrasco leveraged resources like the Connect Center at El Paso Community College (EPCC) to not only advance her own education but also to guide others embarking on similar paths.
After earning an Associate of Science in Biology from EPCC in 2022, Carrasco continued her studies at the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP), where her determination and academic performance culminated in a Bachelor's of Science in Biology this fall. Despite her academic demands, she remained connected to the EPCC by working at the Connect Center, where "Ardena never gave up," and "her customer service is remarkable in her role as a student academic advisor," Luz Roberts, Connect Center Student Advisor, told EPCC News.
Carrasco's narrative is one of perseverance, and as she steps into the UTEP Pharmacy program to pursue her Master's, her contributions to the Connect Center will persist. The center is a nexus for educational support, offering services in both English and Spanish, and assisting individuals in acquiring their GED. Carrasco understands the profound impact of this work, noting, "The job has helped me grow my networking and social skills, this will be very important in my pharmacy career," an insight she shared with EPCC News.
