Student Spotlight on Cassandra Bañales

Monday, January 22, 2024

Bakersfield College is one of the largest Community Colleges in the state of California, and the diverse student population includes people with a wide variety of goals and ambitions. 

Cassandra Bañales is enrolled in the Nursing program at Bakersfield College and plans on continuing her education after graduating. “I started at BC, back in 2018 or 2019,” Cassandra explains, “I had looked at some other Nursing Programs, like Cal State (Bakersfield) and some private schools, but I chose the program at Bakersfield College because it was convenient, less expensive and the best program in Bakersfield.” Her favorite part about being a nursing student at BC is the professors. “I love the professors. They are the most helpful people I have ever met,” she says, “and I have made some really good friends with a lot of my classmates as well.” 

While attending BC, Cassandra started working in the tutoring center at BC’s southwest campus on Camino Media. “In the tutoring center, I help with scheduling and adjusting appointments, I help with recruiting, I delegate work to tutors, and I also help with recruiting,” Cassandra says. “We also do presentations in classrooms to introduce students to the tutoring center.” 

When asked if she would recommend Bakersfield College to someone, Cassandra is quick to reply, “I would tell them to get started now. The professors are the best part of BC. They want to see their students succeed, and they want to see their students graduate. If you are motivated, able to work well with others, and learn to communicate with your professors, they will help you succeed.”  

After BC, Cassandra plans to start working in the nursing field as soon as she graduates, but she will also work to earn her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Cal State Bakersfield.