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Deanna Stewart wanted to kill herself when she lost her house and career in 2000 when the dot-com went bust. She'd worked in the software industry for more than 20 years. The 40-year-old single mother was deeply depressed and surfed the Internet, looking for a painless way to end her life but she couldn't find one. She made a decision to keep on living and subsequently decided to attend De Anza College.
That turned out to be the best decision she ever made.
Stewart absorbed the contents of textbooks like a sponge and even joined De Anza's Honors Program, which offers more challenging courses. She started the service club called Honors Club to raise money for the honors program. She was a community health outreach worker to help addicts with health issues. In 2002, she served on the FoothillDe Anza Community College District Board of Trustees, representing the interests of 22,000 De Anza students. She was interviewed by Michael Krasny, host of the PBS radio program Forum, about the budget crisis facing California's community colleges.
For her active involvement in the school and excellent grades, Stewart was awarded the DeHart Memorial Scholarship, a scholarship in memory of De Anza's founding president A. Robert DeHart.
"I feel honored to receive this award. Although I don't know him, I know so many people loved him," Stewart says. "I feel I have a special bond with the school because somewhere at De Anza, they have my name down."
In the fall, Stewart will transfer to Stanford University and major in science, technology and society.
"I used to think going to college was a waste of time, but right now, I find being an educated person is invaluable itself," Stewart says. "The most important part of your health is your mind. Education opens your mind."
Returning to school was quite an adjustment for Stewart, especially when she found most of her classmates were 18 to 20 years old. But she is grateful that they treated her as if she were one of them.
But Stewart especially appreciates the support of her 12-year-old daughter, Austin.
"Sometimes I felt lonely because my mom didn't have a lot of time for me but I was happy for her. She was doing something she enjoyed," Austin says.
Stewart looks forward to starting her studies at Stanford. Actually on the day she received the admission letter, she went to Stanford and bought a Stanford hat and T-shirt. She plans on becoming a public information officer for a biotech company after she gets her bachelor's degree.
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