Lorraine Barrales-Ramirez: Understanding the Needs of Today’s Community College Students

Lorraine Barrales-Ramirez understands the obstacles faced by today’s community college students. She faced them herself when she graduated from Menlo-Atherton High School and became a community college student.

“I’m here to help students out,” she said. “I love working with students and assisting them achieve their academic goals. I grew up in Redwood City. After graduation from M-A I attended community college on the Peninsula then transferred to Cal State Fullerton. As a former EOP and first generation college student I understand the obstacles our students face.”

Lorraine is the new counselor with Extended Opportunity Programs and Services (EOPS), a program that provides college support services for low-income and educationally disadvantaged students. She said she hears first-hand about what today’s students are going through to achieve their educational dreams.

“Students have family and job obligations, they face the high-cost of transportation and housing, all of these things are difficulties but students need to understand that they are not going through this alone,” she said. “We are here to help and there are other students who are going through this so there is a large support network at Cañada. Together, we will help students meet their academic goals.”