First-Gen Dreams, Finding Confidence, and Finishing Strong with Ana Carpio Monterroso

In this episode of Beach Peeps, CSULB Vice President of Student Affairs Beth Lesen sits down with Ana Carpio Monterroso, a first-generation student whose journey to The Beach is rooted in resilience, discovery, and purpose.

Originally from Guatemala, Ana shares how she came to the United States and didn’t initially believe that a four-year university, or even a career in education, was within reach. After starting at community college, a pivotal moment helped her realize that her dream of becoming a teacher was possible. That realization led her to CSULB, her dream school, where she is now completing her degree and teaching credential.

Ana reflects on her early experience at The Beach, where she struggled with loneliness and imposter syndrome, unsure if she truly belonged. But everything changed when she began showing up to events, resource centers, and student organizations. Through that step, she built community, gained confidence, and became deeply involved across campus, serving in multiple leadership roles and supporting other students along the way.

Now preparing for graduation, Ana is not only stepping into her future as an educator but also paving the way for her family and community. From guiding her younger sister toward college to planning for graduate school, Ana’s story is a powerful reminder of what’s possible when you take that first step.

Her journey shows that growth begins the moment you decide to show up.

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:00

What do you think is stopping some students from getting involved earlier?

SPEAKER_01 0:05

Probably they're scared. Were you scared? Yes. I was really scared because like I was like, I don't know if I belong here.

SPEAKER_00 0:11

You know, like so it's like Do you feel like you had a lot of imposter syndrome when you first got here? I had that one.

SPEAKER_01 0:16

But not anymore. Like I'm really like confident. Yes, it's like on.

SPEAKER_00 0:20

Yeah, not anymore. How do you think you went from having imposter syndrome when you first got here to now having none?

SPEAKER_01 0:28

I really I was really sad because like I was like, I don't have any friends, I don't have anything to do be like besides school and like my house, you know. Like so I just started going to like events. So yeah, it was like just doing research of what they offer. I didn't know they had like resource centers where you can you have a lounge where you can do your homework.

SPEAKER_00 0:48

And once you started showing up to events and things, things got easier. Yes. So you went from having from being sad and scared to having all these friends and being in like four different clubs and having an on-campus job and having student teaching. That's quite a transformation. Yes. No wonder this is the best year of your life. My best year. I'm Beth Lesson, Vice President of Student Affairs and Enrollment at Cal State Long Beach. And this is Beach Peeps, a podcast about students, stories, and the interesting things happening on campus and beyond. Hi Anna.

SPEAKER_01 1:31

Hi.

SPEAKER_00 1:31

How are you?

SPEAKER_01 1:32

I'm really good, and you? Good, good. Well, tell me what is your last name? Carpio Monterosso. Carpio Monterosso?

SPEAKER_00 1:39

Yes, yes. Did that okay? Yes. Okay. It's nice to meet you. I've never met you before. I'm so glad to meet you. Yes.

SPEAKER_01 1:49

I'm really glad to meet you too. How did you get here? How did we find you? I'm really involved, like um in school. So last semester, like in spring 2025, I was working with Alonda. Okay. So she's uh the director, well, assistant director for the Latin Research Center. She is? Yes. So I was working with her for the whole semester, and like um I told her that I really like to be like involved in school. How this how long have you been here? Uh three years. This is my third year.

SPEAKER_00 2:17

Okay, and so you've been here for a minute. Yes. Okay, good. And this is your last year? Yes, this is my last year. Oh, I just met you.

unknown 2:22

I know, I know.

SPEAKER_00 2:23

And you're already leaving. How are you leaving? Did you transfer here? Yes. I transferred from Cerritos College. Okay. Yes. Okay. And did you always want to come here?

SPEAKER_01 2:33

Yes. Yeah. This was my dream school. Yes. Okay. Well, I didn't have like the okay, so I'm like um from Guatemala. So I came here when I was like 15 years old. Yes. So I didn't know I had the opportunity to come to go to like a university, you know? So I didn't have like uh the big dreams, like that everyone like, oh, I want to go to a UC. I wanna, I didn't know anything about that. So it was really hard for me. So when I was told that I had to apply in my last year of uh high school, I applied to to uh like a community college because I didn't know like I had the opportunity to like apply to a four-year university. But I went to Cerritos College and I um well I started with my dental assistant like okay certificate. Yeah. But I don't know why did I put that one again? I don't know. I don't want to do that like never, but that was my first like choice, you know. Like I was like, okay, I only have like two years, I'm gonna go and like just finish and then I'm gonna work, you know? Okay. Because I I was like, oh, I don't, I'm not, I don't have the opportunity. Because that's opportunity. Yeah, I don't have the opportunity to go like to to a higher education. Why did you think that? I don't know. Probably like it was the language, the I don't know. Probably like I didn't like do my research or like I you just didn't even imagine. Yeah, I didn't imagine. Like I was like, oh okay, I'm gonna go to high school and then I'm gonna work, you know, like after high school.

SPEAKER_00 3:54

And so community college felt like a big deal.

SPEAKER_01 3:56

Yes, yeah, like a big deal. Like I was like just like scared, you know? And were you scared when you went? Yes, yeah. I was really scared. But Sergeant's College they have a program, it's called Teacher Track. Okay. So since I'm like nine years old, my dream is like to be a teacher, you know. Is it? Yes, okay. So it's my dream. So you like children. Yeah, I love children. Yes, I love children. Well, I work in my church with uh children, yes, with uh four years old and six years old. Oh do you like Sunday school? Yes, okay. So I like and Sundays. So I was like, oh, I wanna do this for my life. I wish I was a good one.

SPEAKER_00 4:34

If you wanted to be a teacher, why did you do the dental assistance?

SPEAKER_01 4:37

I know, right? I don't know. You still don't know, even to that that I had to go to like a four-year university to be a teacher, you know, like I didn't know, like so you didn't think you could become a teacher. Exactly. I didn't know. So like that's why I was like, okay, I'm just gonna go to like a two years um and get what you can get. Yes, exactly. And at AE. So I started my general education, um, and then I met someone from teacher track, and they told me like they had like a partnership with Long Beach to like transfer. And I was like, okay, I wanna do that, you know. Like so I started my I changed my major. I changed my major for like my second year in college. Bye-bye dentalist. Yeah, I don't want like I was like, um, I don't want to do that.

SPEAKER_00 5:20

So now you knew that it was a possibility. Yes, okay, exactly.

SPEAKER_01 5:24

So they told me that it was possible, you know. So I started like doing my um my courses, you know, like they have like a list of courses when you have like before you apply to like uh here, yeah. You need to do like courses, you know? Yeah. So I started doing those and my hours and like what do you mean hours? Did you go to teach? Yes, well, not teaching, but it's more like observation. Yeah, observation hours. So I was just doing my and you did that even at Cerritos, yes. Okay, I did 40 hours, okay, no, 80 hours of observation for for my last year of like Cerritos. And then well, I tried, I applied for Long Beach. It was my my dream school. Like I was like, if I don't go to Long Beach, I don't want to go like anywhere. Really? Yes, yes. Because like it was my dream, you know. And then I apply and then I got it.

SPEAKER_00 6:12

So how did Long Beach become your dream school? Are you do you live in the area?

SPEAKER_01 6:16

No, I live in Lingwood right now. How did you learn about Long Beach? Well, when I was like in Cerritos, they told me like a lot of things about Long Beach, you know, like really built us up. Yes, yeah, yeah. And I was like, okay, I went to Cerritos College. Yes.

SPEAKER_00 6:31

So you got here three years ago and you must have been so thrilled.

unknown 6:35

Yes.

SPEAKER_00 6:36

And are you are you actually uh an education major?

SPEAKER_01 6:40

Yes, I'm I'm liberal studies. You're liberal? I'm doing my liberal studies and my I'm working on my credential right now. So I'm doing my credentials. Yes, credential. That's why three years because I already finished my BA, but I'm doing my credential. Yes, because like Lombij, they have a program. Yes. So you can do both.

SPEAKER_00 6:54

And at the end of this year, will you have your credential? Yes, hopefully. Yes.

SPEAKER_01 6:58

Oh my goodness. Yes, I'm so I'm gonna start uh doing my hours in January 20th.

SPEAKER_00 7:03

Is that student teaching?

SPEAKER_01 7:05

Yes, student teaching. My student teaching.

SPEAKER_00 7:06

So you're doing a classroom in January?

SPEAKER_01 7:08

Yes, in two weeks.

SPEAKER_00 7:10

Do you already have your assignment?

SPEAKER_01 7:11

No, no, no. They're gonna tell tell me uh next week. I'm gonna do that.

SPEAKER_00 7:14

Are you what are you gonna do elementary or middle school or elementary?

SPEAKER_01 7:19

Yes, and my dream is like first grade, second grade, kind of.

SPEAKER_00 7:22

Yeah, you want to be an elementary school teacher, yes.

SPEAKER_01 7:24

So sweet.

SPEAKER_00 7:25

You know, I started before I even became I'm a I was a psychologist, but before I became a psychologist, I taught preschool.

SPEAKER_01 7:32

I was a preschool teacher. I really want to teach, yeah, to preschool too. Yes.

SPEAKER_00 7:37

No, no, elementary is good, that'll be good for you.

SPEAKER_01 7:39

Yes, yeah, so yeah, that's but that's why do you want to be a teacher? I have an experience when I when I went to church, like when I'm a Christian, so like since I'm like little. So um I was in church when I was like nine years old, and I noticed like there was a lot of kids um like crying, like they were like sleeping or like things like that. And I told my parents I was like, I don't like like I wanna do something, you know, like they didn't have like any like classes for children or anything.

SPEAKER_00 8:08

And the services weren't really appropriate for it.

SPEAKER_01 8:10

It was like two hours, yeah. Like two months for children is like yeah, really like boring, you know. So I was like, I wanna do something. And I told my my dad, I'm gonna do something, and like he he told me, Okay, people, do like a lesson and we can do like next week, you know. And I do my I did my lesson like that week I tried like it was on Noah's arc. And you took the kids out of the church, yes and you said come with me and I'll like yes. How old were you? And it was like nine. You were nine years old. Yes. Since that moment, I was like, okay, I want to do this for like for my future.

SPEAKER_00 8:42

Wow, this for my life. You're really lucky that you knew from such a young what you wanted to do. You just loved it. Yes. And did you keep doing it?

SPEAKER_01 8:49

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 8:50

Your faith is very important to you, yes, obviously and to your family.

SPEAKER_01 8:53

Yes, yeah, it's really important. Yes.

SPEAKER_00 8:55

So you come here, you're becoming a teacher.

SPEAKER_01 8:57

Yes.

SPEAKER_00 8:58

And you got very involved. You said that was what you told me. You got very involved on campus. Tell me how you got involved on campus.

SPEAKER_01 9:04

Okay, my first year here, I didn't do anything, you know, like, and it was really sad because like I was like, just I'm gonna take my classes and just gonna go home.

SPEAKER_00 9:12

You know, that was my routine. And that was your plan.

SPEAKER_01 9:15

Yeah, that was my plan because I didn't know, like, you can get like you didn't know there was a home involved, you know?

SPEAKER_00 9:19

Yeah, you didn't know what was going on here.

SPEAKER_01 9:21

Exactly. So, and then um I started like asking everyone, like, oh, do you know like if they have programs or uh scholarships or things like that, you know? Like I wanna get involved. So I asked uh the Dream Success Center, and they told me, Oh, we have a pro well, the Dream Act, they have a program called Dysig where you can apply and you can do like 300 hours. Well, 150 per semester, you know, 300 for the whole year. And then I applied, and then you you get to choose like your your placement. Yeah. So I was like, okay, I was doing my my research, and I was like, oh, the Latin research and that that looks fun, you know. Like, okay, and I that was the only one I applied. And then like I I got in and well, I started working with Alondra. My first big events was the Latina Connection Conference. So it was um it was amazing. It's for like the purpose, it's for like network, you know? Like network with staff and like um professors, I think they they invited professors, and then yeah, it was like were there a lot of students? Yes, we had like 200 students. Really? Yes, we had 200 students, I think. This semester I'm really involved. Like, I don't know how I'm gonna manage it. All the things and right now. What are you doing? Okay, so right like the first I'm in three clips. So I'm the president for student with dependence, I'm the event officer for fuel for undocumented empowerment leaders, and I'm the treasurer for the Latinx student unit, and I'm like uh student assistant at the Latin Research Ander and the DSE. And the Dream Success Center. The Dream Success Center, yes.

SPEAKER_00 11:05

That is a lot, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 11:06

It is a lot, it is a lot.

SPEAKER_00 11:08

How will you do all of that this semester? I don't know. That's the thing I must get.

SPEAKER_01 11:13

Plus, you're teaching. Yes, I'm teaching, but uh, you know, uh, it's my last year. It is so I really want to like enjoy my last year. I really want to do like a lot, a lot of things for my community. And yeah, that this is like once in a lifetime. Like, I'm not gonna do this like after I graduate. True. It's your last is my last opportunity to like being in disinvolved, you know.

SPEAKER_00 11:35

And these are things that you feel very passionately about. All of these things.

SPEAKER_01 11:38

All of these things, yes. How long have you been a member of Fuel? One year. This is my first year. Oh, it is? Yeah, it's my first year in these three clips. Yes.

SPEAKER_00 11:46

And and all of them. In all of them. And so active. Yeah. I'm really active. Yes. How did you get so active so quickly? Like it you weren't, you weren't, you weren't, and then boom.

SPEAKER_01 11:56

Yes. Well, this year, it was my this was this was my best, like the best year of my life I can live. This year. Yes, this year. Well, like from like last semester and this year.

SPEAKER_00 12:05

Sounds like this is a wonderful time for me to be talking to you.

SPEAKER_01 12:08

Yes, because I like I love like the events we're doing. We have a lot of events plans. We have like Central American event for April, we have uh networking event for student with dependents in February, uh, well, the Latina Connection Conference. Uh we have the immigrant heritage month in March. So I'm really like excited and I'm really happy to be part of this.

SPEAKER_00 12:32

Why are you so interested in doing these kinds of events?

SPEAKER_01 12:36

Well, I'm really passionate about my community. I love my community. Yeah and I love to be like everywhere. I was like this year, I'm I I was like, okay, my new year's resolution is to be everywhere, you know.

SPEAKER_00 12:50

Do you feel like you're constantly telling people about resources?

SPEAKER_01 12:53

I'm like every day I'm like talking about my clubs. I'm really like, oh, you should join clubs. I'm like, like I know like freshmen. I'm I'm like, I'm I'm telling them like, oh, you should join, you should like do like networking because like at in your last year, you're gonna need like those connections, you know, you're gonna need like letter of recommendations, you're gonna need things like that if you want to apply to like to do your masters or like more, you know.

SPEAKER_00 13:16

What do you think is stopping some students from getting involved earlier?

SPEAKER_01 13:22

Probably they're scared. Yeah, like were you scared? Yes, I was really scared because like I was like, I don't know if I belong here, you know. Like, I don't know if they want me here.

SPEAKER_00 13:32

I don't know if like so it's like Do you feel like you had a lot of imposter syndrome when you first got here?

SPEAKER_01 13:37

I had that one, but not anymore. Like I'm really like confident on it. Yes, it's like on. Yeah, not anymore. Yes, because like I I think you need to build your own like trust in things.

SPEAKER_00 13:49

I don't know. How do you think you went from having imposter syndrome when you first got here to now having none? How did that happen for you?

SPEAKER_01 13:59

I was like, well, I really I was really sad because like I was like, I don't have any friends, I don't have anything to do be like besides school and like my my house, you know. Like I don't have anything to do and I want to go like out with my friends and things like that. So I just started going to like events. So yeah, I was like just doing research of what they offer. I didn't know they had like resource centers where you can you have a lounge where you can do your homework, you have snacks, you have a fridge where you can put your things, you know, like I didn't know anything about that. So I was like just I just want to get involved, and I was just like and once you started showing up yes to events and things.

SPEAKER_00 14:36

Things got easier.

SPEAKER_01 14:37

Yes. Because you're you're starting making friends and like things like that.

SPEAKER_00 14:41

You know, did you make a bunch of friends in these events?

SPEAKER_01 14:42

Yes, in these events, yes. And I have a lot of friends right now, so I'm really like happy because like yeah.

SPEAKER_00 14:48

So you went from having it's from being sad and scared and alone and lonely to having all these friends and being in like four different clubs and having an on-campus job and having student teaching. That's quite a transformation. Yes. No wonder this is the best year of your life.

SPEAKER_01 15:10

Yeah, it's my best year, and it's really sad that it's my last year, too. But well, it's good to end on a high. Yeah. There's that. That's good. Yes, yes. I'm really excited because I'm gonna graduate in May, so I really want to like start like pre preparing myself because I want to do a master's. I want to go like you do graduate school. Yeah, I want to go to graduate school.

SPEAKER_00 15:31

Did you you said that you came here when you were 15? Yes. And so when you were 14, you were in Guatemala. Yes. So when you were 14 years old in Guatemala, did you imagine that you'd be talking about getting a master's degree? No.

SPEAKER_01 15:44

No, never.

SPEAKER_00 15:45

Life is very different from what you thought it would look like, huh? Yeah, exactly. How do your how does your family feel about this?

SPEAKER_01 15:51

They're really happy. Yeah. Because, like, you know, like I'm a first generation. Yeah. So none of my family have like graduated, like even in the United States, you know. What does that mean for you? It's like a dream. It's like you're living a dream, yes. Because like in high school, I was like, I don't have this opportunity, you know. Like, I'm not gonna go like hired in higher education or something like that. So it's like I'm living like a dream, but yeah.

SPEAKER_00 16:22

That's nice, yes. Family, and you said you have a little sister, yes, she's 16. Will she come to college? Will she go to college?

SPEAKER_01 16:31

Yes. Well, she has like a bigger dream than me, than me. What does she want? She wants to go to Harvard. Nice, yes. So, like when I was in Cerritos College, uh, I I've heard of that place. Yeah. I'm like, I I love it.

SPEAKER_00 16:47

I mean, it's I've heard of that school. It's all right. Yeah, I'm really moving Cerritos. I mean, if she can't come to Long Beach, I guess she can go to Harvard.

SPEAKER_01 16:54

Yes, exactly. I was like, um, they have like a program for dual immersion. Okay. Well, no, dual enrollment. And I was like, okay, no, she needs to be. In high school. In high school. So she's doing it, yes. College classes. Yes. She's gonna graduate from uh Cerritos College next year before like high school.

SPEAKER_00 17:13

And you found the dual enrollment program for her. Like you were telling her. Yes. So you've been guiding her.

SPEAKER_01 17:18

Yes, I'm her count counselor. I do her classes, I do everything for her. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 17:22

This is what we talk about so often that especially for I was a first generation college student, but especially for first generation college students, it's not just you, it's not just the student who gets impacted, it's everybody who comes along with you. Like because of your experience here and in Cerritos College, now your sister is doing college classes in high school. Exactly. And that probably wouldn't have happened if she didn't have you as a big sister.

SPEAKER_01 17:48

Exactly. So I'm really excited that she's gonna go like more, you know, she's gonna do more than me. Like, I'm really excited for that.

SPEAKER_00 17:56

And um, yeah, I'm like, you're like, yes, you're you're her biggest skill leader.

SPEAKER_01 18:00

Yeah, yeah. Do it, like, do it. Go for yeah, everyone go to Harvard. Yes, and like yeah, dreams come true, you know. Yeah, too. Like, yeah, so I yeah, I help her. Yeah, we went to um two weeks ago, we went to the UCLA Lake Arrowhead for a leadership retreat. So you and your sister, yeah. So I I take one class in Cerritos, yeah, so I can go with her. So because she's a minor. Oh, you're smart, yes, you're smart. So she's a minor, so she can go by herself. So I I take classes at Cerritos, so I can just so that she can go.

SPEAKER_00 18:33

So she can like experience these things. Oh, look at you. Yeah, you're like, I I can make this happen.

SPEAKER_01 18:39

Yeah, yeah. I'm like, yeah, you're gonna go.

SPEAKER_00 18:41

That's great. And was it a great experience?

SPEAKER_01 18:43

Yeah, it was amazing. It was for three days, I think. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 18:47

Those are the kinds of things that you know, if it weren't for colleges and universities, a lot of kids wouldn't have access to those kinds of experiences.

SPEAKER_01 18:57

And they don't know about these things because like they don't well, they don't have like help or like resources exactly.

SPEAKER_00 19:04

Yeah. So when you become a teacher, are you are you gonna be telling your kids from from elementary school that you're going to college?

SPEAKER_01 19:13

Yeah, that they can do more than they think.

SPEAKER_00 19:14

Yes. Yes, you're gonna be champion.

SPEAKER_01 19:18

Best supporter, yes.

SPEAKER_00 19:19

Awesome, awesome. I love that.

SPEAKER_01 19:21

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 19:22

And when you graduate, you're gonna you'll leave campus, but hopefully not for long. Hopefully, you'll be back for your masters. But let's say after you graduate, what's one of the things that you will miss most about being at Cal State Long Beach?

SPEAKER_01 19:36

Everything, like events, my friends, because like I'm graduating, but not all of them are graduators, yeah. I'm gonna miss them a lot. And then like I think the experience, even the like professors, they're amazing. Like, I'm gonna miss everybody.

SPEAKER_00 19:50

Oh, I ask everybody. I'm gonna ask you that too. Don't cry, you'll be you're coming back for your master's. We already decided. Yeah, yeah. Um, who's your favorite professor? Jose Moreno. Oh, that was quick. Boom! Done.

SPEAKER_01 20:02

No question. He's the best. He's uh he's the director for the Chilza department. Okay, yeah, and he I I took her his class last year, I think. I don't remember if it was last year.

SPEAKER_00 20:16

So a big shout out to Jose Moreno. Yes, and why is he your favorite teacher?

SPEAKER_01 20:20

Your personal like he makes the class really like fun, you know. Like I know a lot of people there, he likes readings. Yeah, so there's a lot of readings, and I know like it's hard, but he's amazing. Like the class, the no, yeah. I don't know, I don't know, like he's great.

SPEAKER_00 20:42

And is there anyone special who was at Cerritos who was responsible for you finding out that you can come here? Like, is there someone that you would say this is someone who really helped me expand my my dream? Like how got me to realize I could do more.

SPEAKER_01 21:03

Probably the I don't remember her name, but she was part of teacher track.

SPEAKER_00 21:07

Teacher track.

SPEAKER_01 21:08

She's the assistant director, I think. Yeah, and she told me. Yeah, she told me about the courses, the she told me about like the connection to Colsey Long Beach, she told me everything.

SPEAKER_00 21:18

So big shout out to her because if it weren't for her, you wouldn't be here.

SPEAKER_01 21:21

I would be like, and my sister. She she was like, Do you want to be a dental assistant? Your big sister or your little sister.

SPEAKER_00 21:27

No, my little sister. Yeah, my little sister. She was like, Anna, this is it, it's not making sense.

SPEAKER_01 21:31

She she told me one like one day she she said, like, are you sure you wanna be you wanna do this? Like, this is not your dream. And I was like, You're right, you're right. I'm like, Yeah, I don't want to do this. And then the next day I I changed my major. I was like Wow, I was like, No, I don't want to do this.

SPEAKER_00 21:47

Wow, and so it just took one person in your life to say this isn't you. This is yeah, exactly. And you're like, This is not and somewhere in the back of your head, you knew it wasn't you, yeah, exactly. But that was as soon as someone else Says it, you're like and push you. Exactly. Wow. That's so shout out to your sister too. Yeah. What's your sister's name? Uh Daniela. Daniela. Daniela. All right. Well, Daniela, if for whatever reason Harvard doesn't work out, or if you come to your senses, we are here for you at Cal State Long Beach and hope that you will consider joining us too. Yes.

SPEAKER_01 22:22

Yeah, and my parents. I'm really like thankful for them because like they work every day really hard for make this come true, you know?

SPEAKER_00 22:30

Yeah. That's that feels like a great note to end on. Yes. And thank you. Thank you so much for being here today and for sharing about everything that you do outside of school and inside school, and you know, just how involved you've gotten and how much work you've done to help other students to connect to the kinds of programs that have really transformed your college experience and made this a place that you love to be at.

SPEAKER_01 22:56

No, I'm really thankful for being here and thank you for inviting me. It's my pleasure. It's an amazing experience. Great. Thanks.