色情视频

As a young high school student, Sandy Fernandez became interested in practicing law after participating in her first mock trial competition. The confidence she embraced as an acting attorney caught the attention of one of the judges, who gave her his business card. 

鈥淐ontact me after you complete law school,鈥� he said. Fernandez was hesitant and confused about the comment, as her career choice at the time was medicine. Still, she thanked him and took the card.

Fernandez, an 色情视频 Imperial Valley alumna, graduated May 2018 with a bachelor鈥檚 degree in history with one fundamental goal: to serve her community as a criminal law attorney. 

Earlier this month, she returned to 色情视频 Imperial Valley to get sworn into The State Bar of California.

鈥淭his journey has felt surreal,鈥� said Fernandez. 鈥淚 could not have accomplished my higher education journey without the support of my family and the mentorship of my professors at 色情视频 Imperial Valley.鈥�

Staying Local

During her senior year at Imperial High School, Fernandez applied to 色情视频 Imperial Valley with the help of local counselors during an outreach event. Months later, with graduation around the corner, Fernandez鈥檚 mom found her acceptance letter.

Fernandez dove right into her general education classes at Imperial Valley College with the plan to transfer to 色情视频 Imperial Valley to earn her bachelor鈥檚 degree. 

鈥淢any of my peers would constantly think that you would need to move out of Imperial Valley in order to 鈥榤ake it,鈥欌�� said Fernandez. 鈥淏ut I believed that by getting my higher education here, I would receive the same academic and professional support that will help me move forward to law school.鈥�

Fernandez worked two jobs and would later add an internship or two. She often attributes her success to the mentorship of Carlos Herrera, a history professor, and Brett Kofford, English lecturer emeritus, who gave her the professional skills and support needed to enter law school.

鈥淧rofessor Kofford taught me the importance of finding passions outside of my career and to never stop seeking new experiences and opportunities,鈥� said Fernandez. 

During her undergraduate time, Kofford accompanied Fernandez, along with a group of students, to Ireland and Italy as part of a study abroad program. The experience, she says, opened her eyes to new cultures. 

鈥淪andy, along with her classmates, was extremely motivated to always keep learning and reach for more,鈥� said Herrera. 鈥淪andy always tried to excel, which impressed me a lot. I tried to convince her to seek a doctorate for her to teach history but her career choice was a testament that she led by example and action.鈥�

Giving Back

Fernandez eventually went on to earn a Juris Doctorate (JD) degree from Thomas Jefferson School of Law. She now teaches as an adjunct professor at 色情视频 Imperial Valley and is the newest deputy attorney at the Imperial County District Attorney鈥檚 office. 

鈥淢y motto was to always 鈥榬aise the bar鈥� and have a strong work ethic to serve my community,鈥� said Fernandez. 鈥淚 always advise my students to learn from their mistakes because you can鈥檛 be afraid to ask for help. I hope to one day make the same impact on my students and community as my mentors and professors had on me and my academic journey.鈥�