Long Beach City College Freshman Carlos Acha is a fifth-generation college student continuing a sibling legacy as a member of the Puente program, where underrepresented students receive the academic guidance and contact they need to succeed.
Acha, the only boy of six children, enjoys programming games as a hobby and is currently majoring in business.
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“She told us about it, which it then helped influence us that we should also join Puente because it’s a great community and it will also help us with our college applications,” Acha said.
Puente offers various resources to its members such as university tours, transfer workshops, a mentor match and academic counseling sessions free from appointment scheduling.
Puente English instructor Darya Myers and Puente counselor Vidal Vargas both lead the program.
The program also hosts events for members to participate in like Noche de Familia, where Puente members bring their families, friends, and educational supporters to connect and learn of upcoming events being held for members.
“This year we’re doing it as a potluck and we are offering students an opportunity to bring their favorite foods to share with the familia and they get to tell us why that is their favorite food,” said Myers.
In keeping with tradition, the Acha siblings have always brought birria, a Mexican dish from Jalisco.
“It’s always finished by the end of the night,” Acha said.
Acha also talked about his family’s relationship with one of LBCC’s English instructors Margaret Shannon, who had been the Puente professor for his older sisters.
Acha said, “If my older sister can’t help me at a certain time with my homework like I need someone to proofread it, I know that I can always go to Dr. Shannon so that she can help me.”
Among Acha’s supporters is his sister Dyana Acha, 19, who has already completed the Puente program.
“I honestly recommend anybody to join Puente, it’s such a great help and it helps you get into universities like my older sister who came from LBCC and transferred to UCLA. Puente is one of the things that helped her a lot,” said Acha’s sister.
Acha’s sister Dyana believes in her brother
“Even though he is the fifth generation, he will have his own impact on the Puente community. He has his own thing and he’s just a great guy”.
“He’s very straightforward and he knows what he wants in life and he’ll get there,” Dyana said.
The Puente program has been part of the Acha family’s life for five of the siblings and will hopefully continue on with Acha’s youngest sister, a middle school student.