DESIRE TO HELP OTHERS DRIVES FUTURE HR PROFESSIONAL
HIGHER EDUCATION HELPS SINGLE MOM UNLOCK POTENTIAL
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aria Torres Arrez sees herself as someone who has the power to
Torres Arrez, 30, is specializing in general business and is pursuing a minor in human resources management. She has an internship with an accounting firm in Wenatchee, and has gotten involved in the CWU chapter of the Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM). She also joined the national Apple Valley Human Resource Association (AVHRA). “I’m hoping my involvement in these associations will pave the way for me to have a successful career right after graduation,” Torres Arrez said. “I’ve been able to grow my network and meet a lot of people outside of school. My mentors in the College of Business helped me understand how important these connections are.” Torres Arrez points to the mentors at CWU and Wentachee Valley College (WVC) who have guided her to this point. Now, she’s ready to take what she has learned and build a prosperous future for her family. “Being part of the College of Business has set me on a path that I never expected just a few years ago,” she said. “I want to keep going forward and I know the College of Business has put me in that position.”
inspire. But, just a few short years ago, the senior business administration major didn’t know what her future might look like. Like many first-generation college students, Torres Arrez didn’t have anyone to show her what she needed to do to create a better future for her and her two children. She did know one thing, however: she didn’t want to work in the fields like her parents, who immigrated to Wenatchee from Mexico when she was 8 years old. “I told my mother how much I respect her and how proud I am of her, but I also told her this is not something I want to do for the rest of my life,” Torres Arrez said. “I knew I wanted to provide a better life for my kids, and the only way to do that was to go to school. So, I applied to Wenatchee Valley College in 2020, and now I’m on track to earn a business degree from CWU.” Ever since she discovered the College of Business in 2022, everything has fallen into place for her.
It’s really satisfying when I can help people, and I kind of see myself as a role model — someone people can look up to. —Rodrigo Castaneda-Marin
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s the oldest of five siblings, Rodrigo Castaneda-Marin has always felt like it was
He assists with recruiting, posting jobs on LinkedIn, and general office work — whatever the team needs. “I want to learn everything there is to know about HR, and this job has given me a good view of how everything works,” he said. The next step for Castaneda-Marin will be to find a summer internship. He explained that he enjoys setting goals for himself, often a year out. “This year, my goal was to find an internship so I can get some experience,” he said. “Then, hopefully, I can have a job lined up by the time I graduate. I don’t want to wait until after I graduate to get my foot in the door.” After three years living and working in Ellensburg, Castaneda-Marin is glad he decided to come to Central. He had considered going to Wenatchee Valley College to be closer to home, but he was
determined to earn a four-year degree so he could set himself up for the future. “I definitely feel like I made the right choice,” he said. “The College of Business has a lot of people who I can ask for guidance, and there are tons of resources whenever I need them.” Castaneda-Marin thanked former College Assistance Migrant Program (CAMP) recruiter Juan Maravilla for opening his eyes to what is possible for students like him. “Juan coming to my high school is what made me choose Central,” Castaneda-Marin said. “He talked about how CAMP could help first- gen students like us, and that made me feel at ease. I didn’t know much about Central, but I’m really glad I chose to come here. I feel proud of how far I’ve come.”
his responsibility to help others. That instinct has stuck with him throughout his time at Central. Now, the junior human resources management major is hoping that his caring mentality will lead to a successful career. “I have that older brother trait where I’m always looking to help others,” said Castaneda-Marin, a first- generation college student from Wenatchee. “It’s really satisfying when I can help people, and I kind of see myself as a role model — someone people can look up to.” Castaneda-Marin is already on the fast track to fulfilling his career goals, working 16 hours a week in CWU’s Human Resources department as a member of the hiring team.
I knew I wanted to provide a better life for my kids, and the only way to do that was to go to school.
—Maria Torres Arrez
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