Bianca Esparza

I was born and raised in El Paso, Texas. When I was nine years old, my father became a single parent and took on the responsibility of raising my younger brother and me. During my freshman year of high school, we moved to Colorado, where much of my extended family lives. As I got older, I became independent at a young age and took on significant responsibilities at home. Because of my father’s struggles with alcohol and drug addiction, I often found myself helping care for both him and my younger brother while continuing to focus on school. I began my college journey at Aims Community College, where I attended for three years. During my very first week of college, my father unexpectedly passed away. Suddenly, I was faced with navigating the loss of a parent, caring for my younger brother, and learning how to navigate higher education largely on my own. During those difficult years, I was fortunate to have the support of my CAMP advisors, who provided guidance and encouragement that helped me continue moving forward. I later transferred to Colorado State University, where I spent two years completing my degree. In May 2023, I graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Accounting. Today, I work as a technology consultant at a public accounting firm. Looking back, I am incredibly grateful for the people and programs that supported me throughout my educational journey. I am especially thankful for FSP and the guidance, encouragement, and resources they provided during my time at CSU. Their support played an important role in helping me reach a goal that, at many points in my life, felt incredibly difficult to achieve.