Meet our Students

Neyda Hernandez

Neyda Hernandez , an anthropology major,  won $500 for MiraCosta College in a radio contest hosted by San Diego’s channel 933. Neyda decided to donate her winnings to the Anthropology Department, to support her favorite area of study.

“Not many people pay much attention or even know what Anthropology is,” says Neyda, whose interest in anthroplogy began in sixth grade when she learned about the Holocaust and slavery. “I started to become interested in the world and people of different cultures who live amongst us.”

Neyda grew up in Escondido and hopes to travel to Italy to study its culture, which always fascinated her because while she was growing up, her grandfather’s siblings had Italian restaurants, but being Hispanic she didn’t know much about the Italian culture.

“I love learning about cultures around the world and how different they are from my own.” Neyda plans to get a Ph.D. in anthropology and possibly work for UNICEF.

As a member of MiraCosta’s Gear up Team, Neyda mentors students at Cesar Chavez Middle School in Oceanside.

 “I love being there for them and being someone they can count on; someone they aren’t afraid to talk to,” says Neyda who helps students understand their homework and coaches them in how to overcome obstacles.

“I tell the kids about how I did poorly my freshman year in high school, but I didn’t give up. Instead I pushed myself to do well in order to be able to attend college and do what I really want to do.”