Mesa Community College graduate, Noemi Panza, age 22, said she is very glad she discovered MCC as the place to begin her college career.
Originally from Cosenza, a small town in the city of Calabria, Italy, Panza who is a first-generation college student said, "I saw that MCC had an easy transfer program and thought it was the best option. These years at MCC have been the best years of my life. I loved it and would never trade it for anything else.”
A few years ago, Panza visited the U.S. and fell in love with the state of Arizona. Even upon her return to Italy, thoughts of Arizona lingered for a year, the allure of the state refusing to fade. Eventually, she resolved to pursue her studies here, finding MCC to be the perfect fit. The college offered a variety of programs that piqued her interests, and the cost of education was reasonable compared to other colleges and universities.
The primary challenges she faced as a student in the U.S. were language barriers and time management. Although her first two months at MCC were a challenge because of the language adjustment and cultural adaptation, Panza did not give up, and took every opportunity she could to practice her English language skills and immersed herself in American culture.
Moreover, balancing the demands of being a full-time student, particularly with science courses that required laboratory work, felt akin to having a full-time job for Panza. However, through perseverance and practice, she learned to manage her time effectively and succeed in all her classes.
Dedication truly proved to be the key to her success, she said. The skills she acquired at MCC are invaluable to her. Not only did she learn how to manage her time efficiently while tackling challenging coursework, she also developed resilience in overcoming obstacles while maintaining a positive attitude. Furthermore, she honed her critical thinking skills and became skilled at adapting to new situations. Whenever she encountered difficulties in understanding concepts, Panza relied on the tutoring services provided on campus, where according to her experience, she encountered some of the most brilliant individuals she has ever met.
She stated, "studying at MCC was undeniably the best decision of my life." After completing her Chemistry courses, she had the opportunity to enroll in a research lab-based class called CHM 298, and she is immensely grateful to her Organic Chemistry professor, Timothy Minger, whose guidance and expertise in the laboratory setting have been invaluable to her. Spending significant time in the chemistry laboratory has greatly influenced her career aspirations, and she now aspires to pursue further education in Molecular and Cellular Biology at Grand Canyon University, gain a Ph.D. and become a researcher.
Panza, who was selected as Mesa Community College's 2024 class honors representative and graduation speaker, said, "I would recommend MCC to anyone in the world! It is the best college to earn an associate's degree."