The Sunnyvale Sun

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De Anza College graduate is hoping to inspire others

By Cody Kraatz

Rehana Rehman almost didn't go to her graduation because she was insecure about her age. At 28, the De Anza College graduate may have been one of the oldest students among the 400 who attended, but that just speaks to her drive and passion.

"I just realized how important this was as truly a milestone for me. It was a great achievement on my part," says Rehman, a Sunnyvale resident. More than 2,000 people attended the college's 40th commencement ceremony, and about 400 students accepted degrees and certificates.

Rehman and fellow graduate Yosief Hailemichael, both selected for the $2,000 President's Award and scholarship, show that getting a community college degree is far from easy for many students. Hailemichael was born in Eritrea, in East Africa, and worked full time as a security guard to get through school. He is transferring to San Jose State University.

"I haven't had a very typical past compared to your average community college student," says Rehman. The Redlands native graduated with honors, a 3.8 GPA and an associate's degree in English. But it hasn't been easy.

After high school she went straight into California State University, Fullerton, but spent only weeks there. Her parents made her move back home and attend nearby CSU-San Bernardino, but she dropped out.

She took classes at Riverside Community College and met her future husband. Shortly after they were married in 2002, she found out she was pregnant, finished the semester and dropped out to have her daughter Leila, now 4.

She started taking night classes at De Anza in 2004 while her in-laws and husband took care of Leila.

Then, in the fall of 2005 she went back to school.

Rehman is transferring to University of California, Berkeley, in the fall to major in English literature and plans to attend graduate school afterward. "A part of me hopes there might be other students out there like me who say, 'Oh, she can do it. I can do it, too.' "