Wave Staff Report
COMPTON — Compton College student Skyy Sorrell considers herself a natural people connector.
“My journey in life has shown me that what feels good to me is helping people,” she said. “Wherever I am, if I see someone that I think might benefit from a connection to a resource, I provide contact information to an organization or person that can help. I enjoy making sure people are taken care of and are receiving resources that are available to help them.”
A Compton native and single mother, Sorrell is on track to graduate with an associate degree from Compton College in fall 2024 and plans to transfer to Cal State Dominguez Hills to major in business administration and psychology. In the future, she sees herself pursuing a career as either a college counselor or owning a counseling practice to help foster and at-risk youth, as well as those whose families have experienced incarceration.
“I want to share how I have navigated from the same situations they are in, to where I am today,” Sorrell said.
She is active on campus, including serving as president of the award-winning FIST Club (Formerly Incarcerated Students in Transition) for the past two years and has helped increase club membership. She is also a student-worker in the Student Equity office.
“As a peer mentor, I’m like ‘Siri’ for all students.” she said. “Every student is unique and that is how I like to approach each individual I assist. I want to help students get from point A to point B by the fastest and safest route.”
Sorrell’s own life journey to get to where she is today was filled with many obstacles and barriers, however, she never gave up. As the saying goes, the third time’s a charm.
Sorrell first enrolled at Compton College as a Lynwood High School graduate in 2002. She tried again in 2016. Her third time, which began in 2021, is bringing a different result.
“This time, I came back with a game face and a plan,” she said. “This time around, I was determined to take full advantage of every resource I qualified for and that has been the drive and benefit that has kept me going.”
It is all the resources Compton College offers that have genuinely helped Sorrell be successful in her current educational journey.
“Compton College has prepared me in so many different ways,” she said. “I’m so grateful for all of the resources and student services I have benefitted from and the programs I am part of.
“The Special Resource Center, offering disabled student programs and services, has taught me patience and time management; the state-funded CalWORKs and Cooperative Agencies Resources for Education (CARE) programs have taught me different communication skills and how to have a positive mindset. For me, growing up in Compton had a lot of negative undertones. Compton College helped change my mindset.”
She really is a “part of everything on campus.” Sorrell was elected to the Associated Student Government and holds the position of environmental commissioner. She is a member of the LGBT and Men of Color clubs.
Currently, she is completing a fellowship in the College Corps program which gives students a pathway to serve their communities while earning money to help pay for college. College Corps fellows complete 450 service hours and receive stipends.
When completing her service hours, Sorrell takes her children with her so they can learn the importance of giving back to the community. All of this and she still finds time for balance and to enjoy her favorite pastime which is to go to the beach and listen to music, giving her a sense of calm and relaxation.
She advises others to come check out Compton College in person because she knows that often self-doubt can be strong.
“As soon as you step on campus, self-doubt begins to melt away,” she said. “So much is offered here, there is no way you would feel like you don’t fit in.”
What does Sorrell like best about attending Compton College?
“Compton College feels like home to me,” said Sorrell. “What I mean by this is you are not a number at Compton College; you are a name, a face, you’re a person. After only a few interactions with staff and faculty, they start calling you by your first name and that makes you feel good. It makes you feel like you belong.”
