March 3rd, 2026
When Maribel Rodarte graduated from Livingston High School in Spring 2025, she didn’t just walk away with a diploma; she stepped confidently into her future. Today, she’s a nursing student at Merced College with big dreams and a deep commitment to serving her community in the Central Valley.
“I am currently a nursing student, and I am not sure if I want to go for my bachelor’s or become a physician’s assistant,” Maribel shares. “I definitely want to work with kids, and my goal is to eventually work at Valley Children’s Hospital, just because I know the Central Valley has a lack of general care, and I want to help foster better systems of care for the people living here.”
Her long-term goal of working at Valley Children’s Hospital reflects both her ambition and her heart for service. But before stepping into scrubs and clinical rotations, Maribel took an important step during high school that helped shape her college journey: enrolling in Math Bridge.
As a high school senior, Maribel took Math Bridge with instructor Teresa Mercado. At the time, the idea of tackling a college-level course while still in high school felt intimidating.
“I had a very different perspective when I was first introduced to the class because I told myself I would never be able to tackle a college level course during that time,” she admits. “I became a different person after being in the Math Bridge project and realized I was just psyching myself out and needed to learn to trust myself and my abilities more.”
That shift, from self-doubt to self-trust, made all the difference.
“Everyone describes college life as being so difficult,” Maribel says, “but I think that it is primarily based on my major just because I have so many classes I need to take. The Math Bridge project definitely helped me prepare and allowed me to get a more difficult class out of the way.”
By completing a key math requirement early, Maribel entered college ahead of the curve. More importantly, she entered with confidence.
“Because of the structure and environment we were provided, I feel like I have been able to thrive so much more, as opposed to sitting in a lecture hall with hundreds of other people. Math Bridge allowed me to have enough one-on-one time with my professor Teresa Mercado.”
That personalized support created a strong academic foundation, one that continues to benefit her today.
“Math Bridge was able to open up a sense of confidence within me. Just starting off in college with a good GPA definitely reassured me in my progress and allowed me to stay on track with my education plan.”
With foundational requirements already completed, she gained flexibility in her schedule.
“I definitely have more time to take different classes that are more fun because I was able to get the important stuff out of the way first. It gave me a sense of relief and now I feel like I can breathe in life and not stress so much in my academic pursuits.”
That sense of relief can be transformative for first-generation and high-achieving students alike. Instead of feeling buried under pressure, Maribel feels empowered.
“I am being considered for an internship this summer which would be 40 hours a week for the entire summer and in my field of nursing,” she explains. “I will be able to gain experience medically and use that experience as a point of reference as I progress through my career.”
The internship opportunity is with HCC Healthcare in Merced, an intensive, hands-on experience that will allow her to deepen her clinical skills while building her résumé.
From a high school student unsure of her academic readiness to a future healthcare professional gaining field experience, Maribel’s growth speaks volumes about what’s possible with the right support system. Maribel is also passionate about expanding access to Math Bridge and strengthening recruitment efforts.
“One way to improve Math Bridge in the future is to have more student guest speakers at recruitment events and more testimonials from graduates such as myself to help spread the word about the opportunity,” she suggests.
She believes peer voices matter.
“Communication with past students is important because I feel like when someone is in high school, they are more apt to listen to their peers than to an adult coming and telling them what is good for them.”
Maribel’s story is one of preparation, perseverance, and purpose. Through Math Bridge, she didn’t just complete a math course; she discovered confidence, gained momentum, and built a foundation that continues to carry her forward.
As she works toward a future serving children and families in the Central Valley, her journey is a powerful reminder that when students are supported early, they don’t just succeed; they thrive.
Learn more about the impact of the Math Bridge project on our website https://college-bridge.org/.
