At just 10 years old, Ana Gabriela Otalora Reyes made a decision that would change the course of her life. With a mix of courage and curiosity, she left her home in Colombia to pursue her dream of learning English and building a future in the United States.
“I knew exactly where I was meant to be,” Ana says. “My family believed in me so much that they let me go to a whole new country.”
Today, Ana is in her second year at Germanna Community College, majoring in psychology and leading with the same determination that brought her across continents.
Arriving in the U.S. as a fifth grader, Ana faced a whirlwind of new challenges—language barriers, cultural differences, and separation from her immediate family, who remained in Colombia.
“When I would come home from school, I spent more than three hours translating,” she recalls. “Everything was new—the language, the culture, the system. But I was determined to learn.”
Her aunt and uncle, both ESL teachers, became her anchors, helping her adjust to a new way of life. Their faith in her echoed that of her parents back home, motivating Ana to work harder and embrace every challenge as an opportunity to grow.
After graduating from Fredericksburg Christian School, Ana was faced with another big decision: where to continue her education. Financially and personally, she knew Germanna was the right fit.
“Germanna is such a flexible, accessible option for so many people in our community,” she says. “It was the best choice for where I was in my life.”
Still, she admits she didn’t fully understand what community college could offer until she experienced it firsthand.
From her first semester, Ana was eager to get involved. She reached out to Germanna’s Student Life & Leadership coordinators, Timone Brown and Eden Baroody, and joined the Student Government Association (SGA). Her natural leadership and enthusiasm quickly stood out.
As she became more involved, Ana noticed something missing on campus—a dedicated space for Hispanic students to connect and celebrate their shared experiences.
“There wasn’t a group for Hispanic students, so I started one,” she says.
With support from SGA, Ana founded the Hispanic Student Alliance (HSA) and now serves as its president and CEO. The organization focuses on building community, empowering students, and giving back through service.
In addition to leading HSA, Ana serves as the Vice President of Community Development for SGA, where she organizes town halls and fosters collaboration among student clubs. She also represents Germanna on the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia’s Student Advisory Council (SCHEV), advocating for student needs across the Commonwealth.
Ana’s leadership extends beyond Germanna’s campus. In the summer of 2025, she was crowned Miss Fredericksburg Fair, using the platform to promote her initiative, “Empower Education.” Her project focuses on supporting English language learners in local public schools—students who remind her of her younger self.
“I lead a group of ESL middle school students who came to visit Germanna,” Ana says. “We gave them a tour, talked with their parents, and showed them that people like them—those with similar backgrounds and challenges—can find their place here.”
For Ana, it all ties back to one guiding belief: service.
After graduating from Germanna in 2026, Ana plans to transfer to a four-year university—her top choice is Baylor University—to pursue her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in social work. Her goal is to become a licensed social worker, specializing in supporting Hispanic youth and families.
“The way my life has played out, I know I’m meant to be here,” Ana says. “Germanna was the best choice for me—it’s where I found my purpose.”
From a 10-year-old girl with a dream to a young leader inspiring others, Ana proves that courage doesn’t just change your life—it helps you change the lives of others.