Chandler resident Anastasia Eames, 21, said being part of the first group of Mesa Community College students to receive a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Early Childhood Education, Dual Language, has been an inspiring experience.

“I have enjoyed being part of a group that has worked together from the beginning,” Eames said. “It really helps with getting support from peers in class when needed. The support from MCC faculty Annapurna Ganesh and Jamie Theresa Lopez throughout this journey has helped me get to where I am today.”

Eames said she decided to attend MCC after completing the East Valley Institute of Technology (EVIT) Early Childhood Education Program.

“I was introduced to Dr. Ganesh there and completed some of my college courses while still in high school,” she said.

It was not always an easy path.

“Like many young adults now, I have had to do both work and school full time,” she said. “Although I have been fortunate to stay living with my parent, I have also been working hard to be able to support our living arrangement. I live in an apartment with my single mother, helping support my younger brother.”

Eames admits these experiences have already helped her tremendously as she works toward her occupation.

“I currently work at a childcare center in the Chandler school district, and I have been able to use my school experiences to support my work as well as using my work experiences to support my school,” Eames said. “I will be able to use both as stepping stones as I move on after graduation.”

Eames said her only current goal is to finish her bachelor's degree and see where life takes her.

“Although kindergarten is my preferred grade, I would be happy to become a teacher in any range from birth to third grade,” she said.

Eames said she is grateful Dr. Ganesh and Dr. Lopez have been there to support her from day one.

“Not only have they been there as my advisors, but they have also been there as my teachers and mentors,” she said.

When assignments got challenging, Eames was grateful she had an iPad.

“One of the biggest resources I used was the iPad that the school lent to me,” Eames said. “Many classes take on an online format, so the iPad made access to everything easy and convenient. Through the school iPads, I also got access to some academic apps with premium features to better support my learning.”

Eames received several education scholarships from First Things First, an Arizona Early Childhood Organization.

She said she will never forget the sense of community that she felt at MCC. She has recommended MCC to other students.

“I am really grateful for all of my teachers and their attention to every individual student,” she said. “That is something that you would never be able to get at a large university.”