Meet Our Staff: Idolina Quijada

 

Idolina Quijada

Name:
Idolina Quijada

Years at SLCC:
8 years

Current title:
West Valley Center Site Manager

Previous titles at SLCC:
I started as a Student Services Specialist, then moved to a Coordinator, and now I am a manager. My title has evolved thanks to my passion for what I do and for helping students and the community.

What is a typical day or week like for you?
No day looks the same for me. But the basics are navigating classroom issues, setting up events, helping students, looking for funding, and helping the community. It depends on the needs of the day, week, or month.

What are the most challenging aspects of your job?
The most challenging part of my job is needing more support from others and hoping they will see and believe in the potential of West Valley Center and our community. I wholeheartedly believe in our Center and serving our community.

What rewards come with your job?
Helping people. Helping the community and believing in what I do will eventually make a difference in others.

Who or what inspires you at work or in life and why?
I don’t think I do anything special. When we are in a position where we are, we must share the knowledge with our community and provide a helping hand. I think about others who have helped my parents and family. I want to pay it forward. I want people to know that they belong here at SLCC. If I can provide resources and support to the community to help them succeed, I will do so.

Tell us something about yourself from outside of your SLCC life.
I am a mother, daughter, sister, and grandmother. My granddaughter is my ray of sunshine; she is my life.

Family:
My family is everything to me. My family consumes me, and I mean it in the most positive way possible.

Hobbies/interests:
Cooking. I love to cook. People come together around food, and I enjoy cooking and surrounding myself with people in food. I also enjoy crafting, which is a creative outlet I enjoy losing myself in.

Awards/accomplishments:
My children are my biggest accomplishment. Nothing is perfect, but it makes a difference when someone tells me how kind my children are to others. It makes me proud because it shows that I’ve done an excellent job.

Favorite/unique thing about West Valley Center 
We are a family here. We all work together, regardless of which department we may work for. Our primary focus is supporting students; we all are glad to help students. They are our number one priority.

The dream center is my safe place here. It’s a space that was built for people like us. I can sit there and relax. It is a comfortable space, and I think of all the work that has gone into building it. That is going to be my most significant achievement, and I take pride in knowing that I work hard to have that place built.

What does the West Valley Center represent to you?
This place represents the community. Anything is possible here. I keep dreaming, keep fighting, keep going, breaking down barriers. I encourage people to keep trying. You all can do it.

Any advice about college you can share?
It is never too late; don’t hesitate to ask for help. I am not your traditional student; it is possible, and we are here to make a difference. I will ask you to believe in yourself first and come to the West Valley Center, and we will walk you through every step.

I encourage people to visit us at the West Valley Center. We are moving forward to become an Hispanic Serving Institution, but we have been doing that work and keep moving forward to ensure we are available to the communities. I have faith that we will be successful.