When Aurora Pagan walked across the stage at her high school graduation in the spring of 2022, she didn’t have a clear vision of what would come next. She knew she wanted to keep learning but hadn’t yet found the path that truly excited her.
“I had no idea what I wanted to do or who I wanted to be when I grew up,” Aurora says.
One decision, though, was clear—Germanna Community College. “I came to Germanna because financially, it was the best fit for me,” she explains.
After taking a gap semester due to an injury, Aurora enrolled at Germanna in 2023 as a biology major—more out of practicality than passion. “I didn’t want to earn a general studies degree, and since I enjoyed chemistry and biology in high school, I thought a degree in biology made the most sense.”
Once her journey at Germanna began, Aurora’s mom encouraged her to get involved on campus. The pandemic had slowed student activities, but one club was still active: the Applied Engineering Club.
“Even though I had no prior interest in engineering and didn’t know much about it, I went to the weekly meetings,” Aurora recalls. That small step—walking into a room of engineering students—changed everything.
At one meeting, Aurora noticed her peers working intently on their laptops. Curious, she asked what they were doing. They explained they were applying for internships through a program at the University of Virginia. The club advisor encouraged Aurora to apply, too.
“Some of the members were applying to an engineering internship at UVA for the summer, and though I had no prior engineering experience, the club advisor encouraged me to apply,” she says.
Aurora was offered a spot.
The experience was transformative. “Two weeks before my internship ended, I switched my major to engineering,” Aurora says.
Back at Germanna, new opportunities continued to unfold. During a biology class, Aurora asked her professor if she knew of any ways science students could gain more field experience. That conversation led to an introduction to Germanna Lab Manager Stephanie Marsich.
“I’ve been working as her work-study for a year now, where I help set up labs, grow bacteria, feed plants, and prepare for biology and chemistry classes,” Aurora says. “So, I’m thankful to Professor Muldrow for connecting me to my current job.”
That role soon opened another door—an internship this past summer at Virginia Commonwealth University. “Because of my experience working with Stephanie, I got another internship opportunity at VCU,” Aurora says.
Aurora’s involvement in the Applied Engineering Club grew as well. She started as secretary, managing social media and announcements. Today, she serves as Chief Financial Officer, handling the club’s finances and helping plan events.
“Being in leadership has taught me so many skills,” she says. “Time management is still tough—I’m a full-time student, a work-study, and a leader in the club—but I’ve learned how to split my time effectively and balance my responsibilities.”
The relationships she’s built at Germanna have been just as important. “I feel like I’m able to make connections with my professors and classmates here in a way I don’t think I would have been able to at the university level,” she says.
Now in her final year at Germanna, Aurora is completing her associate degree in general engineering with a focus on chemical engineering—the only student at Germanna currently pursuing this specialization. She is also adding an Auto-CADD certificate to her credentials.
Her dream is to work in the chemical engineering field, and she feels confident she’s on the right path. “During my internship at UVA, I was exposed to so many aspects of engineering and the different disciplines it offers,” she says. “That experience really solidified for me that this is what I want to do.”
Aurora is quick to credit Germanna for every step of her journey so far.
For Aurora, Germanna has been more than a place to take classes—it has been the springboard to her future.