CPP graduates reflect on growth, what comes next
By Aadi Mehta, May 5, 2026
Inside a maximum security prison in Scotland, Stephanie Paredes, a political science student, stood just feet away from incarcerated men, helping teach lessons on soft skills and nonprofits.
That is when Paredes realized she was doing more than just studying abroad thousands of miles from Cal Poly Pomona. Her participation in a college-level course at Her Majesty’s Prison Addiewell was helping prepare inmates for life after prison.
“That really fundamentally changed the way that I view the world,” Paredes said.
As graduation nears, CPP students said their experiences were shaped less by the school itself and more by opportunities, challenges and the people they met.
Paredes will celebrate her graduation with a family trip to Bora Bora, a destination her parents have waited a long time to visit. For her, the trip is both a celebration of her achievement and a rare opportunity to spend time with her family.
Timothy Mijares, a mechanical engineering student, plans to keep things local with a family dinner at Panda Inn after commencement, while Andrea Avalos, an apparel merchandising and management student, will hold a celebration that brings together family and friends, including her grandmother who is traveling from Argentina.
For Paredes, going to college meant facing challenges head-on. As a first-generation college student, she had to navigate everything from financial aid to registering for classes on her own. However, instead of relying on one source, she sought advice from anyone who was willing to help.
“I talked to anyone who would listen and asked, ‘What would you do if you were in my shoes?’” Paredes said. “I would take all their advice and combine it into something that felt right to me.”
Other students said the communities they built shaped their experiences at CPP. Mijares, for example, said college was defined by the relationships he formed on campus.
“Sophomore year was when my college experience peaked,” Mijares said. “It was really the relationships and just being surrounded by people who you love and who love you.”
Research suggests Mijares’ experience is common among college students. About 75% of graduates with more than 10 friends found their college experience “very rewarding,” while 87% found their closest friend to be “very” or “extremely” important to their college experience, according to an Elon University poll.
Especially going to an institution often described as a commuter school, Mijares said finding those connections made his experience even more meaningful.
“Finding your people is what really makes your time in college worth it,” Mijares said. “Don’t get your hopes up. Be realistic. It’s an alright school, but it’s really what you make of it.”
Avalos shared a similar perspective, describing her department as a close community where classmates become lasting friends.
“Going to class every day is basically like hanging out with your friends,” Avalos said. “If you’re willing to reach out, you’re probably going to build a community.”
While students highlighted how community has been an important part of their experience, they also shared challenges that helped shape their personality. Mijares said he struggled with his academics early in his college years.
“I was struggling with my classes and didn’t really know how to study yet,” Mijares said. “It taught me how to study effectively and build good habits.”
For Avalos, who moved from Mexico before attending CPP, college was about learning how to navigate life independently. She said every challenge she faced brought forth a lesson, especially after moving to a new country.
“When I look at myself, I see a little girl from Mexico,” Avalos said. “Just knowing we accomplished this is crazy to me.”
Despite different career paths, students described graduation as both an accomplishment and a transition.
While Avalos considers the moment “bittersweet,” Paredes said she has not fully processed it all.
“It feels a little bit unreal,” Paredes said. “In my mind, I’m still working toward something.”
For Mijares, the feeling was more uncertain yet still hopeful.
He said he did not feel prepared for life after college but expressed confidence in figuring things out eventually.
