From GED to honors student—Marina is redefining resilience through education and service

Marina Popova is a resilient and inspiring non-traditional student parent who returned to education after 35 years—proving that it’s never too late to reclaim your story and rewrite your future. Born and raised in the Balkans to a Russian mother and Bulgarian father, Marina made the courageous decision to start over after a difficult chapter of her life marked by life’s challenges without support or direction.

Through incredible strength and determination, Marina overcame these obstacles and chose to focus on healing—physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. She earned her GED in just two months in Spring 2024 and immediately enrolled at San Antonio College, where she found not only academic opportunity but also community, empowerment, and a renewed sense of purpose.

"San Antonio College has provided me, and continues to provide, support, encouragement, and community— especially the Empowerment Center, whose advisors understood the real-life resources I needed.”

Marina was selected to receive the Pan American Round Table Scholarship. This scholarship supports non-traditional students and participants of the Empowerment Center, represents more than financial support for Marina—it symbolizes belief, recognition, and hope. “I came to San Antonio College with the intent to give and ended up receiving beyond my wildest imagination,” she says. 

Now enrolled in a psychology program, Marina is passionate about using her lived experience and education to help others. She volunteers weekly at a local recovery facility, facilitating group sessions for over 100 participants. “I enjoy making a difference in people’s lives, even those some may describe as a ‘tough crowd.’ I am paying it forward joyfully while keeping my eyes on the prize,” she says.

Marina is an active and enthusiastic part of student life. She is a proud member of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, and the Honors Academy. She has also twice participated in the WE Leadership Conference, hosted by the Empowerment Center, which offers non-traditional students tools for personal growth and professional development.

Marina balances her academic life with raising her 15-year-old son, who inspires her every day. She plans to graduate from San Antonio College in May 2026 and transfer to UT San Antonio to continue her journey toward becoming a psychologist, where she hopes to uplift others through trauma-informed, community-based care.