Tiffany Pineda

Hi everyone! I’m Tiffany Pineda and I’m majoring in Electrical Engineering. I hope to transfer to CalPoly SLO before going off to work in the field of renewable energy.

Right out of high school, I went on to attend Cuesta College as it allowed me the flexibility to help with my younger siblings, as well as being an affordable way to continue furthering my education. I began taking my general courses for transfer, but as the courses got more difficult, I found myself beginning to fall behind. As I began to struggle more, it became harder to continue to focus on school; so I decided to take a break and join the Army. 

I spent seven years in the Army as a Blackhawk helicopter mechanic and got to travel a bit as I went to basic training in South Carolina before going to Virginia then getting to my first duty station in Germany before moving to Colorado. I got to meet so many people of different walks of life from all around the world. I was able to gain so many experiences that have helped me to grow and reignite the passion for learning that I had. So once my contract was complete, I chose to leave the Army and return to school.

Returning to Cuesta was a bit nerve-wracking and I knew so much had changed, especially since I was returning during the impact of Covid. I started off taking my classes slowly, but as the difficulty began to ramp up, I heard about the LSAMP program and it sounded like the perfect opportunity to find support and community. I joined them and have been involved in as many events as I could. I was able to make new friends, find the support I needed for courses, and is where I was able to get my first internship. LSAMP has also introduced me to MESA and the SACNAS community which has lead to a larger and greater support system for other students in STEM trying to get to where they are headed. Now I’m also a MESA student and with the help of C6’s LSAMP Cuesta Faculty Lead Professor Cuarenta-Gallegos, we have been able to create our own SACNAS Club to help continue to share this supportive community that has been rapidly growing. I’m incredibly grateful to have so much support during my journey and I hope to continue to share all that I can to help others in their endeavors.