Jessie Betancourt

WORK HISTORY

EDUCATION

SKILLS

ABOUT JESSIE BETANCOURT

My journey to Monterey Peninsula College has been shaped by a series of unexpected but pivotal experiences. It began as a student at Hartnell College, where after completing two remedial courses and enrolling full-time in my second semester, I made the decision to withdraw from all my courses to focus on my full-time job, with no immediate plans to return. However, a chance encounter with a mentor a year later encouraged me to reconsider my path and return to college. From Hartnell, I continued my education at California State University, Monterey Bay, proudly joining the Otter community.My connection to the Monterey region deepened as a service learner at Seaside High School, where I had the privilege of working closely with a school counselor. I consistently arrived early and stayed late, driven by the joy of supporting at-promise youth. After spending a year working at a startup in Silicon Valley, I realized that the sense of fulfillment I found in education was unmatched. This realization led me to submit a single application to Fresno State, which set the course for my future in higher education.Since then, I have been fortunate to serve in various capacities, including at Hartnell College’s Transfer & Career Center, as a counselor at Everett Alvarez High School, as a dual enrollment counseling instructor at Hartnell, as a program coordinator, and as an adjunct counselor at Lemoore College. Each of these roles has reinforced my commitment to engaging and supporting young people at critical points in their educational journeys. These experiences have led me to this exciting opportunity at MPC, where I am eager to continue making an impact.