De Anza College is exceptional at maintaining its sense of community among the students enrolled. Rated by edsmart.org as the number one community college in California, De Anza surpasses the expectations of being just a stepping stone into university life.

In high school, I had not even considered attending a community college; stubbornly retaining the notion that only an accredited university was capable of providing me the experience that I lusted for.

Towards the end of the first semester of my senior year of high school, I was informed by my parents that due to financial reasons, my dreams of attending an accredited university were ruined.

Out of all the community colleges, I settled for De Anza, based simply on the commendation of current and former students.

I have heard comments like: “The quarter system prepares you for the rapid pace at a university,” “The professors are fantastic,” “For a community college, De Anza is a party school,” “The transfer rate is better in comparison to rival junior colleges,” and the comment that propelled me to decide on De Anza, “You’ll meet hella interesting people there!”

Despite my initial resentment towards my parents’ refusal to allow me to attend a four-year university, I have come to realize that everything happens for a reason. Upon entering my first quarter at De Anza in the fall of 2014, I had just discovered that I was cursed with a disorder that I, and the rest of society, could barely comprehend: attention-deficit-hyperactivity disorder.

I was certain I had everything figured out, only to discover that I, in fact, did not know a single thing that I was doing. The registration process was foreign to me, I was clueless about the resources De Anza offered, and when I started a brand new school year feeling tense, scatterbrained and unfocused, it only ended in disaster.

Slowly, I came to discover that De Anza’s thriving community would be a defining aspect of my personal growth. I reached out to other students on campus for advice regarding my unfortunate circumstances and was provided the empathy and care necessary to persuade me to relentlessly pursue my goals.

I became connected with De Anza administration and professors that offered me the necessary accommodations I needed to succeed.

In contrast, it’s difficult for me to believe that the neighboring community colleges in the Bay Area can offer me the monumental experience to drive me towards self-discovery. I would not be who I am now if it weren’t for the warm community that De Anza College is accredited for.