Growing up in a lower middle class family. The oldest of six siblings. These are just a few obstacles that might have hindered some students from achieving their goals. But with the help of the Extended Opportunity Program and Services (EOPS), they haven’t kept Anthony Gracia from reaching his dreams.
Skyline’s EOPS program is a state funded program that provides services for full time students with low income or who endure other educational disadvantages. EOPS helps these students overcome financial barriers and enables them to reach their full potential. Counseling, tutorial services, book vouchers, transfer assistance, and UC and CSU application fee waivers are just a few of the services EOPS offers.
“I want to earn my PHD, just keep going and going and someday own my own private practice,” said Gracia, a Psychology major, who is finishing up his last semester at Skyline. “I definitely want to own my own house one day too.”
Gracia spends most of his time working, going to school and studying, sometimes coming to campus before his classes start and spending late hours studying in the library. When he isn’t studying or going to class, Gracia works on campus with the Adaptive Physical Education Program assisting disabled, mentally challenged and special needs students.
“When I first came to Skyline, right out of high school, I attended an orientation,” said Gracia. “Of the different programs, EOPS caught my eye, because, it helps kids that are economically disadvantaged, in a lower socio-economic status.”
Gracia said his mother instilled in him the importance of going to college and he probably still would have went, but Gracia says EOPS definitely eased the process, especially with the books.
“They give you x-amount of money to pay for your books and it pretty much pays for all your books,” said Gracia. Being from a lower middle class family, it would have been a lot harder if I didn’t have that.”
“We don’t live together, mom is divorced,” Gracia said. “Three live with dad. Me, my brother and sister live with my mom. It’s been kind of messy but my mom has done a good job with everything.”
Gracia’s mother also received a degree at Skyline and was part of the EOPS program.
“Mom ended up with a degree but it took her a very long time,” Gracia said.
Along with the book vouchers and tutoring, EOPS provides one-on-one counseling.
“The most important thing is the counseling they provide,” Gracia said. “They are willing to help you and sit down and talk with you and make sure you are heading down the right path.” Gracia said the EOPS counselors help guide your transfer to a four year college.
“I have applied at UC Berkley, Davis, Santa Barbara and Los Angeles, hopefully I’ll hear from one of them soon,” Gracia said.
The Skyline EOPS program has two full time counselors. “Everyday is different,” said EOPS counselor Pablo Gonzalez, a 17-year-veteran with the EOPS program. “I have met people from all walks of life and from all over the world.”
Gonzalez said he was once asked if he wanted to do something else and move on, and he replied, “No way, there is nothing else that can give me this kind of satisfaction.”
“I have had former students who have endured the hardships of poverty, alcoholism and every kind of abuse possible,” Gonzalez said. “They have overcome and went on to become PhD’s, millionaires, and some have been able to retire at an early age.”
Gonzalez says that his work with EOPS has been “A great lesson for me to learn,” and compared to the students who he has had the pleasure of meeting, “We have nothing to complain about.”
“My 17 years have been a very good journey,” Gonzalez said.
The Skyline EOPS slogan, “Take Your Dreams Higher” definitely seems to fit in with the aspiration of Anthony Gracia. “The main thing I want is just to be happy and have a family. If I could just have that, it would be great.”
