“DA Voices” is a recurring feature used to spotlight De Anza College’s diverse community voices. We ask the same question to different people and arrange their quotes so that readers can see varying points of view. This time, La Voz reporters Damian Renteria, Eli Darom Ben Dror and Cris Li asked, “What was the most challenging thing you’ve had to overcome in your life?”

Melica Afnani, 18, public health major, said she had to overcome “when accidents happen, whether it’s in your control or not.”

Rese Nacion, 19, psychology major, said uprooting her life was her biggest challenge.

“After moving from the Central Valley in 2024 and choosing a non-traditional high school path, I lost connection to my childhood friends,” Nacion said. She also said that without De Anza, she would have been lost but “found a sense of community with IMPACT.“

Kieryn Greylock, 19, international business major, said they struggled with depression.

“I tried to take my life once. I woke up on the bank of a river and was like, ‘woah.’ It’s a miracle I’m here, actually,” Greylock said. “I’m glad I’m here.”

English professor Jesus Quintero said getting to where he is as an educator was his biggest challenge in life.

“Despite having parents who are traditionally non-educated, having the equivalent of a third grade education and being in English as a Second Language through high school, I managed to become a full time, tenured professor at De Anza,” Jesus Quintero, English said. “How the hell does someone out of my lack of pedigree, struggle to and manage to achieve this? It’s crazy.”

Maya Tian, 18, psychology major, said her hardest challenge so far was dealing with growing pains.

“I think everyone has to deal with this,” Tian said.

Ayumu Yoshi, 19, computer science major, said the hardest challenge he faced was learning to communicate in English while navigating high school in the United States.

“I came here for high school three years ago. Of course my English skills were not good at that time,” Yoshi said. “Every day, it was hard to understand what the professor was saying.”