Alumna chooses career at Palm Beach State to help students succeed
Ana Isabel De La Cruz graduated from Palm Beach State with her Associate in Arts degree in 2022. She is now pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree in Human Services to become a mental health counselor. De La Cruz’s experience at the College had such a significant impact on her that she is currently working as an Administrative Assistant II with Palm Beach State at the Lake Worth campus and the TRIO Upward Bound Program.
De La Cruz focuses on taking each day one step at a time, embracing author J.L. Hoyt’s words that when we fall down, we must remember to look and see all the progress we have made. Her own progress shows us the value of higher education, allowing her to know academic success and a career that drives her.
As TRIO exists to help young students progress through an educational pipeline from middle school through college, De La Cruz is serving a tremendous purpose, helping students on their academic and professional journeys just as she has done and continues to pursue a successful future.
As a recent college graduate, she has a clear message for today’s PBSC students. “Don’t give up even when things get hard. Always prioritize your mental and inner peace.”
In recognition of Palm Beach State College’s 90th anniversary, the weekly Alumni Spotlight Series showcases the College’s role in preparing generations of graduates to achieve success in myriad careers and give back to their local communities.