Student Spotlight: Alondra Arreola-Espino
Alondra Arreola-Espino is gearing up for her sophomore year at Meridian Community College.
"I'm excited for this year; excited to get back into a routine," the 18-year-old Meridian resident said.
Though she initially considered a career in pharmaceutical sciences, Arreola-Espino is considering switching to kinesiology. "I've always been interested in the health field," she said, explaining that body movements intrigue her.
Her time at MCC has been rewarding. "It's been great because I've been a part of clubs," Arreola-Espino said emphasizing the importance of involvement. "If you are involved, you'll get more out of it – more friends, more activity, just more experiences." And there's more.
She particularly enjoys the diversity of the College. "MCC has a lot of international students, and you get to see a glimpse of their world. One of my best friends is from Scotland. I never imagined myself meeting anyone from out of the country, and here they're in your class, and you can go speak to them."
Arreola-Espino is thankful for the MCC Foundation's Tuition Guarantee Program, which guarantees the tuition for four semesters of Lauderdale County high school graduates. Since its inception in 1996, Tuition Guarantee has helped over 8,000 students.
For the Fall Semester of 2024, Arreola-Espino is enrolled in 19 hours. She has already landed a spot on the Dean's List with her grade point average above 3.5 on a 4.0 scale. She will join the Phil Hardin Foundation Honors College at MCC in the upcoming term. Her involvement extends to leadership roles as well. She is an officer in the international community and junior college academic honor society, Phi Theta Kappa, and she's an active member of Ivy League Recruiting, helping new students feel welcome. "Some come up to you because you're a familiar face," she said, highlighting the importance of connections during orientation, especially for those from out of town or state. Additionally, Arreola-Espino serves as secretary of the Student Government Association.
In addition to her academic course load and on-campus duties, she works at Chick-fil-A, where she recently earned a promotion to team trainer. In her free time, she enjoys playing tennis and pickleball.
Arreola-Espino added, "I'm excited to get back into a routine and schedule; summer's great and spontaneous, but I'm looking forward to future events and getting to see people again who don't live here."
For more information, visit meridiancc.edu.