Mariana Ledesma was the first person in her family to go to college. She also found a way to turn what could have been a four-year path to a bachelor’s degree into two.

She started at WSU Tech, earning an associate degree in Digital Marketing. From there, her credits transferred to Wichita State University, where she continued into the Organizational Leadership and Learning program with a concentration in Digital Transformation.

Because those credits carried with her, Mariana did not have to start over when she moved on to her bachelor’s degree. She could build on what she had already completed at WSU Tech, and with the flexibility of online coursework, she finished the degree in two years instead of four.

For Mariana, the path was about more than finishing faster. As a first-generation college student, it was also about learning that she belonged in spaces she may not have always pictured herself in.

She graduated this year and is now pursuing opportunities in marketing and brand strategy.

We sat down with Mariana to talk about being the first in her family to go to college, finding a faster path to a bachelor’s degree, and what she would tell other students who are wondering whether they belong there too.

What did you study at WSU Tech, and what OLL concentration did you choose?

At WSU Tech, I studied Digital Marketing to earn my associates degree. My OLL Concentration was Digital Transformation.

What do you do now?

I recently graduated and am currently pursuing opportunities in marketing and brand strategy.

What made you decide to go for the Organizational Leadership & Learning degree?

I felt like I was missing many soft skills as a first-generation college student.

How did you fit this into your life, and how did your WSU Tech credits count toward the degree?

The OLL degree fit into my life because of the flexibility of the online classes, and my WSU Tech credits helped me complete my bachelor’s degree within 2 years instead of 4 years.

If you had to explain what this program actually teaches you to a friend, in plain terms, what would you say?

The OLL program has taught me how to lead and work within a team, collaborate with people from different backgrounds & perspectives, and understand how to contribute in a meaningful way towards a shared goal.

What can you do now that you could not do before, and how has earning your degree changed the way you see your future in your industry?

I’m more confident now in what I know and the value I can bring to an organization. I’ve learned how to better understand challenges and how I can contribute to change and improvement.

Was cost ever something that almost stopped you? What changed?

Cost was something that almost stopped me. Something that changed for me was the scholarships available for transfer students to help eliminate the tuition price gap.

What is one skill you have now that you flat out did not have three years ago?

A skill I have now that I didn’t have before is strategic thinking. I’ve learned to look beyond just completing a task and think about the bigger goal.

What would you say to someone who is first-generation but worries they don’t know where to start?

I would say, don’t be afraid to take the first step, even if you feel like you don’t know where to start. You’ll learn along the way, gain new perspectives, and grow in ways that you might not expect. And most importantly, know that you belong in these spaces too.

Through the Organizational Leadership and Learning pathway, you can earn an associate degree at WSU Tech, transfer to Wichita State, and graduate with your bachelor’s degree from Wichita State. 

Accelerate advisors at WSU Tech coordinate the transfer directly with Wichita State, so the credits you have already earned keep their value.

If you are the first in your family to consider a bachelor’s degree, talk with an Accelerate advisor about the OLL Pathway and find out how far the work you have already done will take you.

Explore the OLL pathway and discover where your education and experience could take you.