Jessie Galarza-Cornejo

JESSIE GALARZA-CORNEJO
Early College Alumni, currently attending Rutgers University, New Brunswick with a major in Psychology.
Associates Degree of Environmental Studies, 2023

Jessie Galarza-Cornejo is a dedicated senior attending Rutgers University, New Brunswick. As an early graduating senior, she pursues a degree in Psychology with a minor in Cognitive Science and is expected to graduate in May of 2026. She has created an excellent profile with many accomplishments, such as making the Dean’s List for the third time in a row, being inducted into the Tri-Alpha Honor Society for First-Generation college students, invited to join the Chi-Alpha-Epsilon and Phi-Betta-Kappa Honor societies, where she awaits her induction ceremonies. Her academic journey is remarkable as she successfully balanced her high school and college workload as part of the Early College program at Hudson County Community College.

On top of her achievements, her resilience demonstrated her commitment to academic excellence while she was a pediatric cancer patient. Being diagnosed with Atypical Epitheliod Hemangioendothelioma, a rare vascular tumor that occurs in 1% of children, she refused to let her condition hold her back from reaching her full potential. She is the last and only student at William L Dickinson High School who chose to finish the Early College Program. She graduated in May of 2023 with her Associate's Degree in Environmental Studies. Her mission is to advocate and empower cancer patients, survivors, families, children, and adults to recognize their resilience throughout their adversities with mental health. She strives to help earn her Psy.D., specialized in clinical psychology, to reach her goal of becoming a clinical psychologist to become a beacon of hope for all who are navigating to seek help while guiding them towards a brighter future. 

“Hudson helped me gain a sense of community and made me feel confident that I can do anything in life! My time at Hudson County taught me resilience, responsibility and leadership skills that helped me realize the strength I had to succeed in life and that no matter the obstacles I faced, I am capable of going beyond all expectations!”

Were you involved in any student organizations, clubs, or leadership roles?

As an early college student, I was deeply involved in many organizations. While balancing my life at Hudson County Community College, I was part of my high school’s national honor society, captain of my esports team for Overwatch, yearbook committee, vice president for my graduating class and member of PHI-THETA-KAPPA Honor Society at Hudson County Community College. I had leadership roles in all of these organizations where I learned how to lead by example and how to be a mentor to my fellow peers. I enjoyed being involved in all of these organizations because I was able to make many connections and leave a positive impact on future leaders.

What were the biggest challenges you faced during your time at community college?

The biggest challenge I faced during my time at Hudson County Community College was transitioning and managing from high school to college. As an early college student, I was met with struggles with time management. During my first semester, I was very exhausted and stressed out with so much work I had to complete. I would try to remember all the assignments I had to do but struggled to keep track of everything I had to complete. Even when I had classes during the evening, there were struggles as I would come back exhausted. After my first semester, I learned how to manage my time better with the use of a planner and calendar. With the help of my advisor and professors, I was able to create a balanced schedule that helped alleviate my worries of falling behind. I managed my time efficiently throughout the rest of my semesters while excelling in my studies with high academic achievements.

What influenced your decision to attend community college?  

My decision to attend community college was influenced by my determination to advance in my studies. I wanted to get an understanding of what college was really like. I jumped at the chance to join the Early College Program because I realized how rare an opportunity it was to be able to advance at such a young age. Being able to learn the reality of college life in high school allowed me to mature and grow as a person. Not only did this program help me, but it also helped my parents because they wouldn't have to worry about the financial burden of school. The Early College Program came at no cost for me, so earning an associate degree for free was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and I was grateful to be chosen for this life-changing program. My advice: Don’t be afraid to ask for help and do not feel pressured to choose a study right away. Take your time to find a study you feel passionate about. Do not let your failures determine who you are, turn them into motivation for your success.

Were there any professors or classes that had a significant impact on you?  

Professor Karamcheti was my professor whom I grew close to during my time at Hudson County Community College. I had her in the majority of my classes and she always encouraged me to learn about environmental science. She motivated me to do my best and always had a bright, cheerful personality that made me excited to attend her courses. When I struggled, she reached out and helped in any way she could with my studies. My interests in environmental science grew because of Professor Karamcheti and her passion to teach such fascinating courses. When I graduated, I missed seeing Professor Karamcheti because she had a significant impact on my academic journey and without her, I wouldn’t be able to share my story about how I became fascinated with environmental science.