A Journey of Sacrifice and Academic Achievement
By Cheryl Litton
Navigating Southern California traffic on a two-hour commute from Temescal Valley to Cal State San Marcos, Saide Gallegos is already well into her day while most students grumble about an early-morning class.
Gallegos is on track to graduate this fall as a child and adolescent development major. Her academic path hasn’t been a straight line.
“I graduated from high school in 2020 during COVID,” Gallegos said. “I started at my local community college that same summer and stayed at that college for three years, finishing my general education in 2023.”
After earning an associate degree, Gallegos took an eight-month break not to relax or go on vacation, but to work.
“I told myself that the only reason why I was taking those eight months off was to save up to come here and not have to work as much for my first semester because I didn’t know what to expect,” she said. “I really struggled a lot in the community college, so I wanted to make sure that school was my priority.”
By spring 2024, Gallegos was enrolled full-time at CSUSM. Her so-called “break” didn’t last long. Within weeks, she was back to juggling two jobs: cleaning homes and working at a local gym, all while maintaining a full-time course load.
She started working at the gym out of necessity after losing her restaurant position during the pandemic, and the cleaning opportunity came by chance from the person who cleaned her family’s home.
Despite her grueling schedule, Gallegos made the dean’s list last fall, an achievement that took her by surprise.
“At first, I thought it was a scam email,” Gallegos said, laughing. “I knew I had done well, but I never thought I’d be recognized for it. It felt empowering. Like all the sacrifices had paid off.”
As she reflects on her journey to get here, the word “sacrifice” frequently comes up. From the long commute to the long workdays, not to mention staying up late to study, Gallegos sees her hard-earned progress as not just a personal success but a tribute to resilience.
“Passing isn’t always easy,” she said.
Gallegos lives at home with her mom and is part of a tight-knit CSUSM legacy. Both her parents are alumni, and her younger sister is a student as well. Her family connections add more profound meaning to her academic milestones.
Looking ahead, she plans to take another eight-month break after graduation. But again, calling it a break is probably not accurate.
She’ll continue working two jobs to save for graduate school, prepare for the GRE and study for the Spanish proficiency exam required to enter the university’s credential program. Her goal is to become a dual immersion teacher and make an impact in bilingual classrooms.
For now, Gallegos is focused on finishing strong.
“Every day, I remind myself why I started,” she said. “It is about the sacrifices we make that are temporary for long-term success.”
In a world where instant gratification often dominates, Gallegos is living proof that dedication, purpose and perseverance never go out of style.
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