Student Profile: Wendy Puentes
Written by: Alyssa Yih
It would be an understatement to say that the college application process is difficult, but for a first-generation student who does not have much support to guide them through the process, it is so much more overwhelming. Being the first out of her family to go to college, Wendy Puentes did not have adequate support from parents or siblings that many students in the Bay Area typically have access to.
When the time came during her senior year to apply for colleges, she did not know what to expect: the admissions process, financial aid, choosing the right school, choosing appropriate classes, finding an appealing major.
As a first-generation student, Wendy recalls, “I felt a lot of stress that I was not doing things right, and I felt that I had no one to reach out to with questions.” At first, Wendy did not know how to start, or if she was even doing the right thing. All she really knew was that she wanted to go into the business field. This all changed when Melinda Dibbs, Wendy’s mentor from The Reach Foundation, stepped in. Since 2019, Melinda has been there to assist Wendy from anything “such as a simple math problem to deeper financial issues.”
Throughout the college application process, Melinda was there to help ease the process of figuring out how to afford a college education. She helped Wendy apply for foundation scholarships to pay for tuition and work with FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). Now a second-year at San Jose State University, Wendy is pursuing a degree in international business. Melinda has guided Wendy in creating a balanced schedule through choosing classes that will accelerate her progress towards achieving her degree.
Not only has Melinda provided academic and financial support, but the two have developed a special relationship and have become very close friends over the years. Wendy especially values their friendship, as this has made her feel “very comfortable reaching out for help”. She feels that she can ask questions that she otherwise would not know who or how to ask. There is a comfort in knowing that if she feels stuck in any situation, Melinda would be someone that she can reach out to at any time. She also appreciates the constant check-ins from Melinda about not only staying on track academically, but also mentally. The support Melinda has provided opened many new doors and opportunities for Wendy.
One key takeaway from Melinda’s mentoring has been emphasizing the importance of networking and reaching out to the right people. With support from Melinda, Wendy set up a LinkedIn account which expanded her network and granted her opportunities that she would not have gotten otherwise. For first-generation students like Wendy, they don’t have as many connections to organizations, but with the support of Melinda, she was able to set up important information to get started on seeking internships relating to international business. Melinda provided lots of resources that such students don’t typically receive and helped Wendy find different job and internship opportunities that pertained to her major. Wendy has always known that she’s wanted to go into a business-related field, specifically the beauty industry. Now, she is involved in marketing for a small beauty business that focuses on creating natural, organic skin care products!
With The Reach Foundation and Melinda’s unwavering support, Wendy says, “Going to college in America was not something that anyone has ever done in my family, but the Foundation provided me the opportunity and support that allowed me to be the first in my family to go to college and succeed.”