Mia Sarah Espinoza: Made to Influence

“It started with my dad. Now, it’s my turn.” – Mia Sarah Espinosa

A Scholarship Brought Her Back After 15 Years

For Mia, returning to college wasn’t just about completing a degree; it was about following in her father’s legacy. After 15 years away from school, she enrolled in Northwest Vista College entirely online, driven by a powerful moment of opportunity: A scholarship through Public Allies, a diversity-focused AmeriCorps leadership program hosted by the Alamo Colleges District.

“That scholarship gave me the push I needed,” Mia said. “It reminded me that this wasn’t just for me—it was for my family, for my community, and for the future I want to build.”

Why AlamoONLINE Was Made for Mia

As a working mom with a part-time job, a husband, and a busy teenager at home, Mia needed a college experience that fit around her life, not the other way around. That’s why AlamoONLINE made sense. 
“AlamoONLINE was made for me,” she said. “It let me work, parent, and study without sacrificing anything important.”

When she needed focus time, Mia would head to campus and set up her laptop beside the lake at Northwest Vista College. At home, she used a mobile desk so she could move around the house sometimes standing, sometimes sitting—depending on her energy. This flexibility allowed her to fully engage with her coursework and her family.

“I could pick my son up from soccer, do laundry, then get right back into study mode,” she explained. “Online classes let me live my real life and still move forward.”

Influence Runs in the Family

Mia’s drive to serve others is rooted in the example her father set. He was an instructor and adjunct professor who often brought Mia to class as a child.

“He was younger than some of his students, but he connected with them,” she remembered. “Seeing him teach made me proud. It sparked something in me.”

Now, as Mia completes her own degree, she sees that same spark in her son. After years of watching his mom study and persist, he began earning college credit while still in high school.

“He’s told me he’s proud of me,” Mia said. “That means everything. It’s a full circle. I was influenced by my father, and now I influence him [my son].”

A Mission to Serve

Mia’s story doesn’t end with graduation. She plans to transfer to a 4-year college and return to her roots on San Antonio’s West Side, where she hopes to launch a nonprofit and small business hub for the community. “I want to create a place where people can access job resources, get help with school, counseling—whatever they need to move forward,” she said.

“I’ve worked with nonprofits. I’ve seen what people need. And now I’m learning how to build something for them. That’s what this degree means to me.” 

Mia’s Power Word: Influence From her father’s classroom to her son’s future, from community resource centers to campus lakefronts—Mia’s journey is powered by influence. Not just the influence she received, but the influence she’s now passing on.

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