.jpg)
When Darian Moya-Perez first stepped onto the AACC campus, she was nervous. "I was really scared coming into AACC, but then everything changed completely," she said. Fast forward to today, and the once-shy student is now a confident, outgoing leader double-majoring in advertising and communications. She's thriving in an environment that fuels her creativity and passion for connection.
Moya-Perez has fully embraced campus life, finding her place in the AACC community. "I’m very proud to be an AACC student," she said. One of her biggest involvements is the Campus Current, the college’s student-run news publication. "It’s part of my major and what I’m studying, so it just goes hand in hand."
The journey hasn’t been without challenges. Math remains her toughest subject, but she leans on her parents’ advice to push through: "You just got to keep going, and it’ll lead you to where you want to be." That mindset has helped her juggle a packed schedule of classes, creative projects and networking. "I enjoy videography, drawing and painting," she says. "Those hobbies fuel my passion for storytelling and communication."
One thing that’s made a huge difference for her? AACC’s welcoming environment and supportive faculty. Programs like the Student Achievement and Success Program (SASP) have provided her with valuable resources, and she’s especially grateful for professors who go the extra mile. Shelley DeBlasis, Ph.D., her English teacher, stands out. "Instead of just having us sit and listen to lectures, she arranges us in a circle so we can actually talk and engage with each other. It makes learning more interactive and fun."
After spending her first year mostly in online classes, Moya-Perez is now making the most of in-person opportunities. She’s attending events, building her social and professional networks, and even encouraging others – like her cousin – to enroll at AACC and join SASP.
Her biggest piece of advice for prospective students? "AACC offers so many resources and ways to study, whether online or on different campuses. The professors really understand that you have a life outside of just college." Moya-Perez’s transformation from an introverted student to a confident, engaged leader is proof of what’s possible at AACC. With the right support and a willingness to get involved, students can find their place, their people and their path forward.