Harriet F. Oakley, completing transfer classes for a degree in Accounting

Harriet Oakley has been a wife and mother for most of her adult years, and has just recently returned to school full time to achieve her goal of a Master's Degree in Accounting. Once done, Harriet plans to work as a tax specialist during tax season, and work in property management the rest of the year. She plans to stay involved with WELI scholars in the years to come.  

"The WELI Workshops were particularly useful to me.  I've learned it all in the past, but now I can compare mistakes and successes and take the workshop information to new levels.  I am very appreciative of everything I've learned."

Aundria Abad, current Secretary of the WELI Club and completing transfer classes.

 Full time student, juggling three jobs, a friend, sister and daughter,and still managing to give back to the community.  Since WELI I have been more involved in school and see my future a lot differently.

"Networking was never something I focused on, but since WELI I have realized the importance of it and see  it as a key to success.  I have gained knowledge that I wouldn't have been able to seek out myself and everyday I try to employ the tips and skills I learned there."

On July 26, 2012, twenty-six graduates celebrated their success in completing the WELI Life Skills program and received scholarship checks of $1500 in addition to some words of wisdom. To a rock and roll beat, the WELI Scholars and their families walked the cat walk to pose in front of a WELI back drop to shine in their moment of glory.

The WELI Graduates heard from some great motivational speakers. New Hartnell College president Dr. Willard Lewallen shared his congratulations and an inspirational message with the Scholars as well as his support of the program.

Key note speaker Sharon Gish, Executive Coach, Motivation Speaker and former President/CEO of the YMCA of the Central Coast, shared her thoughts on becoming a leader. Gentle pressure, relentlessly applied will bring about the change we wish to see.

2011 WELI Scholar Anahi Alcibar spoke about how the WELI Life Skills Program helped her get involved in the Monterey County Rape Crisis Center and Dorothy's Kitchen. She also received a 2012 Jefferson Aware for her extensive volunteer service.

WELI 2011 Scholar Results

By Kelsey L. Escoto, WELI Program Manager

We wanted to share some of the outcomes from the first class of WELI Scholars in 2011.  Excitement has been growing in the community and with Hartnell College students about the value of the WELI Life Skills program and Scholarship. 

The 2011 WELI Scholars enrolled in the fall 2011 semester with an average 16 units.  The average Hartnell College Student generally carries 8 to 10 units per semester.  Most 2011 WELI Scholars will or have transferred to 4 year universities and colleges.  Those colleges on the transfer list include CSU Monterey Bay, San Jose State, CSU Bakersfield, CSU Chico, CSU Fresno, UC Santa Cruz, UC Davis, UC San Francisco, UC Berkley and Stanford University.

The 2011 class is working towards degrees in medicine, biology, hotel management, business, political science, teaching, math and administration of justice to name a few. 

The 2011 Scholars who participated in the survey of results shared that the WELI Life Skills Program provided them valuable resources in time management, financial management, self-love, and the opportunity to meet and interact with local business women.  They were encouraged by the support of WELI's community partners and grateful for the time they donated.  WELI Scholars mentioned the community resources provided were very valuable as was the information on financial aid and counseling resources at Hartnell.  

Finding Your Inner Strength

By Kelsey L. Escoto, MSOD, SPHR

WELI Program Chair

Finding Your Inner Strength!  WELI Scholars were fortunate to meet and hear from Elizabeth "Lily" Hills, award winning author and inspirational/motivational speaker.   Lily's passion is helping women recognize their innate beauty, power and unlimited potential.

Recognizing our inner beauty, power and potential can be challenging when we are pushed and pulled in multiple directions.  Family, children, work, school, society all have ideas of what we are who we should be as women.

Lao-tzu said "If you correct your mind, the rest of your life will fall into place."  From the moment we wake up until day is done, a continuous stream of thoughts runs through our minds - "An unbelievable average of sixty thousand thoughts to be precise" (Lily Hills, Feminine Manifesta).  90% of those thoughts are ones you have had before.  Those thoughts are generally negative, self-sabotaging, and the degrading thoughts of our "untamed mind."

The trick is to catch yourself in the act of a disrespectful thought, then tell that "untamed mind" to BE QUIET!  Tell yourself - out-loud that you are a good, kind and compassionate person.  Tell yourself that you are competent and strong.  Choose to NOT believe that "untamed" mind because it does not speak the truth.  Place a positive thought in your head and repeat that over and over.  In time, you begin to recognize the negative untamed mind speaking to you, thereby giving it less power and more power to you!

     Hartnell College Foundation