Shante Mumford, a June graduate of Compton College, said the college was a special place for her. She is transferring to Cal State Los Angeles where she will major in child development.
Courtesy photo
Wave Staff Report
COMPTON — Most students enter college without knowing what they want to do with themselves.
Shante Mumford, who graduated this year from Compton College, is one of those students.
“When I first enrolled at Compton College, I didn’t arrive with a perfect plan,” Mumford said. “I came with hope — hope that this would be a space where I could finally move forward, where I could breathe, and where I could rewrite the story I once put on hold after facing many challenges and personal loss.”
A nontraditional student, Mumford’s hope and perseverance turned into success in June as she walked across the stage at Compton College’s commencement ceremony to receive her associate degree. In three years, she earned three associate degrees for transfer, four associate degrees and two certificates.
“My journey back to education was anything but typical,” Mumford said. She grew up in North Carolina and attended college right after high school, encouraged by her father, who strongly valued education. However, she soon realized she wasn’t fully ready to commit.
She completed a cosmetology program but quickly discovered her heart wasn’t in it. She then moved to Las Vegas on her own, without a support system, and faced some of her biggest setbacks and life lessons.
“During that time, I faced many challenges and made choices that didn’t align with the future I wanted,” she said. “It was a period focused on survival, not growth.”
Eventually, she moved back to California, where a friend encouraged her to return to college and helped her enroll at Compton College.
Now, she is proud to follow in her father’s footsteps by becoming a student at Cal State Los Angeles where she is attending as a child development major. She plans to earn a bachelor’s degree in child development and a master’s degree in education.
She says she is looking forward to building new connections at Cal State L.A. and expanding her knowledge in child development.
“I’ve finally found my passion and I’m excited to learn more and grow professionally,” she said. “I want to make a future impact on children and families.”
Her dream career is to open an inclusive child care center.
“I envision establishing a child care center that affirms every child, especially those with disabilities, developmental delays, or who come from at-risk environments,” Mumford said. “I want to create a space rooted in love, structure, support, and belonging.”
When Mumford first enrolled in Compton College in fall 2022, she was introduced to a program that students consistently describe as vital for its benefits, personalized support and guidance in navigating and completing college. Extended Opportunity Programs and Services is a California Community College program that provides comprehensive support to help students from disadvantaged backgrounds succeed in college and achieve their educational goals.
“I remember walking into the EOPS Office during my first semester — nervous, unsure, and trying to play it cool, but honestly overwhelmed,” Mumford said. “I didn’t know what to expect, but I ended up finding something I didn’t realize I needed — a village.
“EOPS was a place where I was seen, heard and supported. The welcoming staff not only asked about my academic goals but also asked me how I was doing,” Mumford added. “EOPS became a steady hand in the middle of uncertainty.”
Mumford took advantage of many student resources on campus. She participated in the work-study program and became a student worker in the EOPS Office, as well as working in several other departments.
She joined the Rising Scholars program for formerly incarcerated students in transition. She regularly met with her EOPS and academic counselors to stay on track with her educational plan. She also became an advocate and voice for other students by serving as vice president of the Associated Student Government for 2024-25.
Mumford had some parting words for her peers as the selected student speaker at Compton College’s year-end celebration for students in the EOPS /CARE/Next Up programs.
“We did not just pass classes,” she said. “We passed life tests. We balanced jobs, grief, responsibilities, and everything in between.
“We are not our setbacks. We are not our circumstances. We are the result of everything we have survived and proof that it is never too late to chase what matters.”
She says there is “something powerful about being surrounded by people who believe in you,” and Compton College was that special place for her, especially through the EOPS program.
“My dreams were nurtured right here at Compton College, and I am forever grateful, especially to the EOPS staff for being the heartbeat of the campus. They changed the way I see education and the way I see myself.”
