Paulina Pimentel-Mora, a Citrus College and Yale University alumna who will soon be studying at the University of Cambridge in England!

As an Owl, Paulina excelled in the classroom, earning three associate degrees in political science, history and Spanish in 2021. In addition to serving as a student assistant in the Student Wellness Center, Paulina was also involved in the honors transfer program, the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society and the Associated Students of Citrus College.

"I could genuinely speak for hours about my time at Citrus College, and I can't think of a single negative aspect of my experience there," Paulina said. "In fact, I wholeheartedly advocate for attending community colleges whenever the opportunity arises."

Paulina said she is grateful for the help and support she received from Citrus College faculty and staff. In particular, she highlighted the efforts of instructor and past honors transfer program coordinator Brian Waddington.

"He kindly pushed me to consider applying to a few Ivy League institutions and offered to write me a letter of recommendation for those applications," Paulina said. "I had never thought of Yale as an option – not even in high school – but Professor Waddington saw that as a possibility for my future."

For Paulina, the initial transition from Citrus College to Yale wasn't easy.

"It was marked by sleepless nights before paper deadlines and moments of self-doubt and imposter syndrome," she said. "In fact, when I initially set foot on Yale's campus, I immediately wished I was back at Citrus. I was incredibly nervous and apprehensive about what lay ahead of me."

But over the course of two-and-a-half years, Paulina began to feel more at home, exploring a variety of subjects and working at the Yale University Art Gallery, which holds approximately 300,000 objects and is the country's oldest university art museum. In addition, she spent a summer at the University of Michigan working alongside the CDC, as well as a semester abroad at the University of Oxford. In 2023, she graduated from Yale with a bachelor's degree in political science.

This fall, Paulina will begin working on her Master of Philosophy in Health, Medicine and Society at the University of Cambridge. Her research will focus on the nuances of women's reproductive autonomy across diverse cultural backgrounds.

As for her advice to current Citrus College students, she has plenty to share:
"One of the most valuable pieces of advice I can offer to current students, often dismissed as cliché, is to embrace your authentic self," she said. "Every decision I've made in my life, whether enrolling in classes, joining clubs or seizing opportunities, has been guided by genuine passions and interests."

"Remember, a person's educational beginnings do not determine their ultimate destination," Paulina added. "Trust in yourself and your abilities, for your journey is uniquely yours to navigate."