Scholar Spotlight – Daisy Gomez

A world away from the high school dropout she once was, Santa Ana resident and fourth-year criminology major, Daisy Gomez stands proud as a UC Irvine Student Parent and Families Educator.

In her mid-30s, Daisy became a single mother of two girls and although it was a struggle, she never gave up. The day she enrolled in community college was the day she decided to rewrite her future – not just for herself, but for her daughters.

At the college, the school psychologist diagnosed Daisy with a learning disability, and she began receiving services. Despite being diagnosed with a learning disability and being told she would not accomplish more than a certificate, Daisy shattered expectations when she graduated community college with a 4.0 GPA and transferred to UC Irvine. Once on the UC Irvine campus, Daisy silenced the feelings of imposter syndrome and found community with other first-generation single parents through UC Irvine’s Family Resource Center.

Today, Daisy is a 4th year criminology major and a Student Parent and Families Educator for the Transfer Student Center/Student Success Initiatives. This summer she will be studying abroad in Florence, Italy along with her daughters. As she prepares for her trip, she is already setting her sights on obtaining doctorate in social work. She thanks the UCI-OC Alliance for the scholarship as the financial support has allowed her to cover housing during the summer months. Additionally, she hopes to continue helping members of her community overcome barriers, see past their limitations, and realize that education is attainable for everyone.