Aretha Franklin

After losing both parents and moving from one dead end job to the next, I realized that I needed to focus on my future. So, at age of 34, I came to San Bernardino Valley College—the first in my family. Financial aid helped offset my expenses—a tremendous relief. It was difficult to train myself to go back into a school setting with so many young people around me, but I was determined. I graduated in Liberal Studies with a 3.6 GPA, and have transferred to Cal State University San Bernardino.

—Aretha Franklin, Queen of Determination