It's Not Impossible

For Gladys Recinos, college wasn’t a certainty after high school, but it was something she quietly hoped for. “I wasn’t sure I was going to be able to go,” she says. “In high school, I didn’t receive much support around how to enroll. And I was the first in my family to attend college.”

After graduation, Gladys earned a scholarship to a four-year university, but it came with a catch. “I had to pay upfront and get reimbursed later,” she says. “At the time, I didn’t have that kind of money, and I did not want to put that pressure on my parents. It felt overwhelming.”

With tuition costs, challenging coursework, and limited guidance, she stepped away from college. But her goal stayed with her. “During those years after I left school, I kept that desire to go back to school deep inside me,” says Gladys. “I carried that hope for something more, for a chance to make that jump.”

In 2021, she returned to school at SLCC with a renewed sense of purpose. “I was a mom of two young kids, so not your typical student,” she says. “This time, it was meant to be. I was fully committed to investing in myself, for my family and our future.”

A friend introduced her to dental hygiene. “Something just clicked,” Gladys says. “I love helping people, and the flexibility of this career means I can be there for my kids while building financial stability.”

Her husband and children supported her throughout. “They said, ‘Gladys, it’s time for you to go back to school!’” That encouragement, along with support from SLCC’s faculty and staff, helped her stay on track. “My counselor sat down with me and helped build a class schedule that got me to my end goal.”

Now Class President of the Dental Hygiene cohort, Gladys has earned several scholarships. “They’ve eased the financial strain of paying for tuition and given me breathing room to focus on school,” she says. “Scholarships have placed earning an education within reach.”

Gladys is set to graduate in May 2026 with an Associate of Applied Science in Dental Hygiene. “After graduation, I hope to work under a periodontist providing scaling and root planing services,” she says. “Eventually, I plan to pursue a bachelor’s degree to broaden my opportunities beyond the traditional clinical setting.”

For now, her focus is on school and family. “I’m investing in myself so I can invest in my kids – they are my inspiration,” she says. “They sit with me at the kitchen table while I study. I want them to see that it’s not impossible to reach your dreams if you work hard.”

Gladys is grateful for this opportunity. “I started from scratch; from ground zero,” she says. “I am forever thankful to those who fund scholarships. Their generosity changes lives.”