{"id":685,"date":"2026-02-24T09:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-02-24T09:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/release-candidate.borregobasic.org\/stories-and-news\/scholar-stories\/2026\/02\/jimena-ochoa-ucla\/"},"modified":"2026-09-03T23:14:06","modified_gmt":"2026-09-03T23:14:06","slug":"jimena-ochoa-ucla","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/borregobasic.org\/es\/stories-and-news\/scholar-stories\/2026\/02\/jimena-ochoa-ucla\/","title":{"rendered":"De las monta\u00f1as des\u00e9rticas a la UCLA"},"content":{"rendered":"<style>\n\/* CACTI ONLY. The decorations in these posts are <span class=\"bb-st-botanical\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><svg viewBox=\"0 0 130 140\" fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"1.5\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" focusable=\"false\" role=\"presentation\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t<path d=\"M30 134C24 116 22 82 30 58C36 39 49 29 62 29C77 29 90 40 95 60C101 84 100 116 95 134\"\/>\n\t\t\t<path d=\"M44 33C38 60 36 104 39 134\"\/><path d=\"M56 29C53 62 52 104 53 134\"\/>\n\t\t\t<path d=\"M69 30C69 62 69 104 69 134\"\/><path d=\"M82 35C87 62 88 104 85 134\"\/>\n\t\t\t<g stroke-width=\"1.1\">\n\t\t\t\t<path d=\"M41 52l-5-3M41 52l-4 4M54 46l-4-4M54 46l4-3M69 45l-4-4M69 45l5-3M84 52l5-3M84 52l4 4\"\/>\n\t\t\t\t<path d=\"M39 82l-5-2M39 82l-4 4M53 76l-4-4M53 76l4-3M69 75l-4-4M69 75l5-3M86 82l5-2M86 82l4 4\"\/>\n\t\t\t\t<path d=\"M39 112l-5-2M39 112l-4 4M53 108l-4-3M69 107l-4-4M86 112l5-2M86 112l4 4\"\/>\n\t\t\t<\/g>\n\t\t\t<g fill=\"currentColor\" fill-opacity=\".38\" stroke-width=\"1\">\n\t\t\t\t<path d=\"M48 27c-4-6-3-13 2-16 5 3 7 11 3 16-2 1-4 1-5 0Z\"\/>\n\t\t\t\t<path d=\"M61 23c-1-8 3-14 9-14 3 6 1 13-4 16-2 0-4-1-5-2Z\"\/>\n\t\t\t\t<path d=\"M75 27c2-7 8-11 13-9 1 6-3 12-8 13-2 0-4-2-5-4Z\"\/>\n\t\t\t<\/g>\n\t\t\t<path d=\"M100 134C98 124 99 112 103 105C106 99 111 96 115 97C121 98 125 104 126 113C127 121 126 129 125 134\"\/>\n\t\t\t<path d=\"M108 99C106 111 106 124 107 134\" stroke-width=\"1.2\"\/>\n\t\t\t<path d=\"M118 99C120 112 120 124 119 134\" stroke-width=\"1.2\"\/>\n\t\t\t<path d=\"M14 134c22 3 92 3 112 0\" opacity=\".5\"\/>\n\t\t<\/svg><\/span> and\n   <span class=\"bb-st-botanical\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><svg viewBox=\"0 0 120 150\" fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"1.4\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" focusable=\"false\" role=\"presentation\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t<path d=\"M32 146C18 133 13 108 22 90C31 73 51 71 63 84C75 97 75 124 63 138C54 148 41 151 32 146Z\"\/>\n\t\t\t<path d=\"M59 90C53 69 61 46 76 38C91 30 106 41 108 59C110 76 98 93 81 97C70 99 62 97 59 90Z\"\/>\n\t\t\t<g fill=\"currentColor\" fill-opacity=\".45\" stroke=\"none\">\n\t\t\t\t<circle cx=\"34\" cy=\"102\" r=\"1.5\"\/><circle cx=\"46\" cy=\"94\" r=\"1.5\"\/><circle cx=\"38\" cy=\"119\" r=\"1.5\"\/>\n\t\t\t\t<circle cx=\"51\" cy=\"110\" r=\"1.5\"\/><circle cx=\"44\" cy=\"134\" r=\"1.5\"\/><circle cx=\"57\" cy=\"124\" r=\"1.5\"\/>\n\t\t\t\t<circle cx=\"72\" cy=\"54\" r=\"1.5\"\/><circle cx=\"86\" cy=\"50\" r=\"1.5\"\/><circle cx=\"78\" cy=\"70\" r=\"1.5\"\/>\n\t\t\t\t<circle cx=\"92\" cy=\"66\" r=\"1.5\"\/><circle cx=\"70\" cy=\"85\" r=\"1.5\"\/><circle cx=\"86\" cy=\"82\" r=\"1.5\"\/>\n\t\t\t<\/g>\n\t\t\t<g fill=\"currentColor\" fill-opacity=\".38\">\n\t\t\t\t<path d=\"M79 36c-5-7-4-15 2-19 5 4 7 13 3 19-2 1-4 1-5 0Z\"\/>\n\t\t\t\t<path d=\"M93 41c1-8 7-14 14-13 2 6-2 14-9 16-2 0-4-1-5-3Z\"\/>\n\t\t\t<\/g>\n\t\t<\/svg><\/span> \u2014 the California barrel cactus and the beavertail\n   prickly pear, both of which grow on the Borrego valley floor. The theme also\n   ships grass, poppy, sprig and olive; do not use them here. inc\/template-tags.php\n   records why: those are generic vines that \"belonged to no landscape in\n   particular\", and the About page was moved off them onto the two cacti.\n\n   bb-st: the Stories & News article kit. Every class is prefixed bb-st- and\n   exists nowhere else in the theme, so nothing here can reach another page.\n   Same technique the imagination-library and learning-academy posts use. *\/\n\n.bb-st-wrap,\n.bb-st-lede,\n.bb-st-letter,\n.bb-st-cta { display: flow-root; }\n.bb-post-article h2,\n.bb-post-article h3 { clear: both; }\n\n\/* --- Byline + standfirst -------------------------------------------------- *\/\n.bb-st-byline {\n\tdisplay: flex;\n\tflex-wrap: wrap;\n\talign-items: center;\n\tgap: 0.35rem 0.75rem;\n\tfont-family: var(--wp--preset--font-family--body);\n\tfont-size: 0.75rem;\n\tfont-weight: 600;\n\tletter-spacing: 0.09em;\n\ttext-transform: uppercase;\n\tcolor: var(--wp--preset--color--terracotta-text);\n\tmargin: -0.5rem 0 1.5rem;\n}\n.bb-st-byline span + span::before {\n\tcontent: \"\";\n\tdisplay: inline-block;\n\twidth: 4px; height: 4px;\n\tborder-radius: 50%;\n\tbackground: var(--wp--preset--color--gold);\n\tmargin: 0 0.75rem 0.15rem 0;\n}\n.bb-st-byline .bb-st-byline__src { color: rgba( 57, 62, 46, 0.62 ); font-weight: 500; }\n\n.bb-post-article .bb-st-deck {\n\tfont-family: var(--wp--preset--font-family--display);\n\tfont-size: clamp( 1.25rem, 2.4vw, 1.55rem );\n\tfont-style: italic;\n\tline-height: 1.35;\n\tcolor: var(--wp--preset--color--forest);\n\tmax-width: 32em;\n\tmargin: 0 0 1.75rem;\n\ttext-wrap: balance;\n}\n.bb-st-first::first-letter {\n\tfloat: left;\n\tfont-family: var(--wp--preset--font-family--display);\n\tfont-weight: 500;\n\tfont-size: 3.9em;\n\tline-height: 0.82;\n\tpadding: 0.06em 0.09em 0 0;\n\tcolor: var(--wp--preset--color--terracotta-text);\n}\n\n\/* --- Photographs ---------------------------------------------------------- *\/\n.bb-post-article .bb-st-hero img,\n.bb-post-article .bb-st-float-r img,\n.bb-post-article .bb-st-float-l img,\n.bb-post-article .bb-st-grid img,\n.bb-post-article .bb-st-mosaic img { border-radius: 10px; }\n.bb-st-float-r { float: right; width: 42%; margin: 0.35rem 0 1.25rem 1.75rem; }\n.bb-st-float-l { float: left;  width: 38%; margin: 0.35rem 1.75rem 1.25rem 0; }\n.bb-st-float-r.bb-st-portrait,\n.bb-st-float-l.bb-st-portrait { width: 34%; }\n.bb-post-article .wp-element-caption {\n\tfont-family: var(--wp--preset--font-family--body);\n\tfont-size: 0.8125rem;\n\tline-height: 1.5;\n\tcolor: rgba( 57, 62, 46, 0.72 );\n\tborder-top: 1px solid rgba( 57, 62, 46, 0.2 );\n\tpadding-top: 0.45rem;\n\tmargin-top: 0.6rem;\n\ttext-align: left;\n}\n\/* BEATING CORE'S GALLERY CSS.\n   WordPress core styles galleries with selectors like\n   `.wp-block-gallery.has-nested-images figure.wp-block-image:not(#individual-image)`.\n   The `:not(#\u2026)` matches nothing \u2014 it is there purely to add an ID's worth of\n   specificity (1,3,1), which no ordinary class selector can beat. Two of those\n   rules do visible damage inside these articles:\n     * the child figure is given a fixed `width: calc(50% - gap)`, so in a grid\n       it refuses to fill its cell and leaves a hole beside it;\n     * the caption is `position:absolute` at the bottom of the image with a dark\n       gradient and white text, printing over the photograph instead of sitting\n       under it.\n   The two rules below use the same `:not(#\u2026)` trick to match that specificity\n   and put both back. Do not \"simplify\" them by removing the :not() \u2014 the\n   layout silently reverts. *\/\n.bb-post-article .wp-block-gallery.has-nested-images figure.wp-block-image:not(#bb) {\n\twidth: 100%;\n\tmax-width: none;\n\tflex: none;\n}\n.bb-post-article .wp-block-gallery.has-nested-images figure.wp-block-image:not(#bb) figcaption {\n\tposition: static;\n\tbackground: none;\n\tpadding: 0.45rem 0 0;\n\tmargin: 0.6rem 0 0;\n\tmax-height: none;\n\toverflow: visible;\n\tcolor: rgba( 57, 62, 46, 0.72 );\n\tfont-family: var(--wp--preset--font-family--body);\n\tfont-size: 0.8125rem;\n\tline-height: 1.5;\n\ttext-align: left;\n\tborder-top: 1px solid rgba( 57, 62, 46, 0.2 );\n}\n\/* The image itself must fill the figure once the figure fills its cell. *\/\n.bb-post-article .wp-block-gallery.has-nested-images figure.wp-block-image:not(#bb) img {\n\twidth: 100%;\n\theight: auto;\n\tobject-fit: cover;\n}\n\n.bb-st-mosaic.wp-block-gallery.has-nested-images {\n\tdisplay: grid;\n\tgrid-template-columns: 1.55fr 1fr;\n\tgap: 1.25rem;\n\talign-items: start;\n}\n.bb-st-mosaic.wp-block-gallery.has-nested-images .wp-block-image { margin: 0; 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right: -0.5rem; bottom: -1rem; width: 7.5rem; color: var(--wp--preset--color--gold); opacity: 0.35; pointer-events: none; }\n.bb-st-letter .bb-st-botanical svg { width: 100%; height: auto; display: block; }\n.bb-st-plate {\n\tdisplay: flex;\n\talign-items: center;\n\tgap: 1.1rem;\n\tmargin: 0 0 1.25rem;\n}\n.bb-st-plate img {\n\twidth: 88px; height: 88px;\n\tborder-radius: 50%;\n\tobject-fit: cover;\n\tborder: 3px solid var(--wp--preset--color--base);\n\tbox-shadow: 0 1px 0 rgba( 57, 62, 46, 0.2 );\n\tflex: none;\n}\n.bb-st-plate__name {\n\tfont-family: var(--wp--preset--font-family--display);\n\tfont-size: 1.35rem;\n\tfont-weight: 500;\n\tline-height: 1.15;\n\tcolor: var(--wp--preset--color--forest);\n\tmargin: 0;\n}\n.bb-st-plate__meta {\n\tfont-size: 0.8125rem;\n\tcolor: var(--wp--preset--color--terracotta-text);\n\tmargin: 0.2rem 0 0;\n}\n.bb-st-letter__label {\n\tfont-family: var(--wp--preset--font-family--body);\n\tfont-size: 0.6875rem;\n\tfont-weight: 600;\n\tletter-spacing: 0.12em;\n\ttext-transform: uppercase;\n\tcolor: var(--wp--preset--color--terracotta-text);\n\tmargin: 0 0 0.75rem;\n}\n.bb-st-letter p { position: relative; z-index: 1; }\n.bb-st-letter p:last-child { margin-bottom: 0; }\n.bb-st-letter .bb-st-letter__open::first-letter { font-family: var(--wp--preset--font-family--display); }\n.bb-st-letter__mark {\n\tfont-family: var(--wp--preset--font-family--display);\n\tfont-size: 3.5rem;\n\tline-height: 0.6;\n\tcolor: var(--wp--preset--color--terracotta);\n\topacity: 0.55;\n\tdisplay: block;\n\tmargin: 0.4rem 0 0.75rem;\n}\n\n\/* --- Pull quote ----------------------------------------------------------- *\/\n.bb-post-article .bb-st-pull {\n\tmargin-block: 2.25rem;\n\tpadding: 1.5rem 0;\n\tborder-block: 1px solid var(--wp--preset--color--terracotta);\n\tclear: both;\n}\n.bb-post-article .bb-st-pull p {\n\tfont-family: var(--wp--preset--font-family--display);\n\tfont-style: italic;\n\tfont-size: clamp( 1.35rem, 2.8vw, 1.75rem );\n\tline-height: 1.3;\n\tcolor: var(--wp--preset--color--forest);\n\tmargin: 0;\n\ttext-wrap: balance;\n}\n.bb-post-article .bb-st-pull cite {\n\tdisplay: block;\n\tmargin-top: 0.75rem;\n\tfont-family: var(--wp--preset--font-family--body);\n\tfont-style: normal;\n\tfont-size: 0.75rem;\n\tfont-weight: 600;\n\tletter-spacing: 0.09em;\n\ttext-transform: uppercase;\n\tcolor: var(--wp--preset--color--terracotta-text);\n}\n\n\/* A list beside a picture. NOT a float: a multi-column list establishes its own\n   block formatting context and refuses to wrap around one, which leaves a large\n   empty block next to the image instead of text. An explicit two-track grid is\n   the only thing that actually puts them side by side. *\/\n.bb-st-split {\n\tdisplay: grid;\n\tgrid-template-columns: 1fr 34%;\n\tgap: 1.75rem;\n\talign-items: start;\n\tmargin-block: 1.5rem;\n\tclear: both;\n}\n.bb-st-split > figure { margin: 0; }\n.bb-st-split .bb-st-roster { margin-block: 0; }\n.bb-st-split .bb-st-roster ul { columns: 1; }\n\n\/* --- Rosters and named awards --------------------------------------------- *\/\n.bb-st-roster { margin-block: 1.5rem 2rem; }\n.bb-st-roster h3 {\n\tfont-family: var(--wp--preset--font-family--body);\n\tfont-size: 0.6875rem;\n\tfont-weight: 600;\n\tletter-spacing: 0.12em;\n\ttext-transform: uppercase;\n\tcolor: var(--wp--preset--color--terracotta-text);\n\tmargin: 0 0 0.6rem;\n}\n.bb-st-roster ul {\n\tlist-style: none;\n\tmargin: 0; padding: 0;\n\tcolumns: 2;\n\tcolumn-gap: 2rem;\n\tfont-size: 0.9375rem;\n}\n.bb-st-roster li { break-inside: avoid; padding: 0.2rem 0 0.2rem 1rem; position: relative; border-bottom: 1px solid rgba( 57, 62, 46, 0.12 ); }\n.bb-st-roster li::before {\n\tcontent: \"\";\n\tposition: absolute; left: 0; top: 0.72em;\n\twidth: 5px; height: 5px; border-radius: 50%;\n\tbackground: var(--wp--preset--color--sage);\n}\n.bb-st-named { margin-block: 1.5rem 2rem; display: grid; gap: 0.9rem; }\n.bb-st-named > div { border-left: 3px solid var(--wp--preset--color--gold); padding: 0.1rem 0 0.1rem 1rem; }\n.bb-st-named dt {\n\tfont-family: var(--wp--preset--font-family--display);\n\tfont-size: 1.0625rem;\n\tfont-weight: 500;\n\tcolor: var(--wp--preset--color--forest);\n\tmargin: 0 0 0.15rem;\n}\n.bb-st-named dd { margin: 0; font-size: 0.9rem; color: rgba( 57, 62, 46, 0.85 ); }\n.bb-st-named dd strong { color: var(--wp--preset--color--terracotta-text); font-weight: 600; }\n\n\/* --- Milestone strip ------------------------------------------------------ *\/\n.bb-st-steps {\n\tlist-style: none;\n\tmargin: 2rem 0;\n\tpadding: 0;\n\tdisplay: grid;\n\tgrid-template-columns: repeat( auto-fit, minmax( 140px, 1fr ) );\n\tgap: 1.25rem 1rem;\n\tposition: relative;\n}\n.bb-st-steps::before {\n\tcontent: \"\";\n\tposition: absolute; left: 0.45rem; right: 0.45rem; top: 0.42rem;\n\tborder-top: 1px solid rgba( 57, 62, 46, 0.25 );\n}\n.bb-st-steps li { position: relative; padding-top: 1.35rem; }\n.bb-st-steps li::before {\n\tcontent: \"\";\n\tposition: absolute; left: 0; top: 0;\n\twidth: 0.9rem; height: 0.9rem; border-radius: 50%;\n\tbackground: var(--wp--preset--color--base);\n\tborder: 2px solid var(--wp--preset--color--gold);\n}\n.bb-st-steps b {\n\tdisplay: block;\n\tfont-family: var(--wp--preset--font-family--display);\n\tfont-weight: 500;\n\tfont-size: 1.05rem;\n\tcolor: var(--wp--preset--color--forest);\n}\n.bb-st-steps span { font-size: 0.85rem; color: rgba( 57, 62, 46, 0.8 ); }\n\n\/* --- Author card ---------------------------------------------------------- *\/\n.bb-st-author {\n\tdisplay: grid;\n\tgrid-template-columns: 96px 1fr;\n\tgap: 1.25rem;\n\talign-items: start;\n\tborder-top: 1px solid var(--wp--preset--color--gold);\n\tpadding-top: 1.5rem;\n\tmargin-top: 3rem;\n\tclear: both;\n}\n.bb-st-author img { width: 96px; height: 96px; border-radius: 50%; object-fit: cover; }\n.bb-st-author__label {\n\tfont-family: var(--wp--preset--font-family--body);\n\tfont-size: 0.6875rem;\n\tfont-weight: 600;\n\tletter-spacing: 0.12em;\n\ttext-transform: uppercase;\n\tcolor: var(--wp--preset--color--terracotta-text);\n\tmargin: 0 0 0.25rem;\n}\n.bb-st-author__name {\n\tfont-family: var(--wp--preset--font-family--display);\n\tfont-size: 1.25rem;\n\tfont-weight: 500;\n\tcolor: var(--wp--preset--color--forest);\n\tmargin: 0 0 0.4rem;\n}\n.bb-st-author p { font-size: 0.9rem; line-height: 1.55; margin: 0; color: rgba( 57, 62, 46, 0.88 ); }\n\n\/* --- Closing panel -------------------------------------------------------- *\/\n.bb-st-cta {\n\tposition: relative;\n\toverflow: hidden;\n\tbackground-color: var(--wp--preset--color--forest-deep);\n\tcolor: var(--wp--preset--color--base);\n\tborder-radius: 12px;\n\tpadding: clamp( 1.5rem, 3.5vw, 2.25rem );\n\tmargin-block: 2.5rem 1rem;\n\tclear: both;\n}\n.bb-st-cta h2 { color: var(--wp--preset--color--base); margin: 0 0 0.6rem; font-size: clamp( 1.4rem, 3vw, 1.85rem ); }\n.bb-st-cta p { color: rgba( 239, 231, 219, 0.88 ); max-width: 44em; }\n.bb-st-cta p:last-child { margin-bottom: 0; }\n.bb-st-cta .bb-st-btn {\n\tdisplay: inline-block;\n\tbackground: var(--wp--preset--color--terracotta);\n\tcolor: var(--wp--preset--color--base);\n\tfont-family: var(--wp--preset--font-family--body);\n\tfont-weight: 600;\n\tfont-size: 0.9375rem;\n\ttext-decoration: none;\n\tpadding: 0.7rem 1.3rem;\n\tborder-radius: 999px;\n\tmargin-top: 0.5rem;\n}\n.bb-st-cta .bb-st-btn:hover,\n.bb-st-cta .bb-st-btn:focus { background: var(--wp--preset--color--terracotta-on-dark); color: var(--wp--preset--color--forest-deep); }\n.bb-st-cta .bb-st-botanical { position: absolute; right: 0.5rem; bottom: -1rem; width: 8rem; color: var(--wp--preset--color--base); opacity: 0.16; pointer-events: none; }\n.bb-st-cta .bb-st-botanical svg { width: 100%; height: auto; display: block; }\n\n\/* --- Narrow screens ------------------------------------------------------- *\/\n@media ( max-width: 700px ) {\n\t.bb-st-float-r, .bb-st-float-l,\n\t.bb-st-float-r.bb-st-portrait, .bb-st-float-l.bb-st-portrait { float: none; width: 100%; margin: 0 0 1.25rem; }\n\t.bb-st-mosaic.wp-block-gallery.has-nested-images,\n\t.bb-st-grid--3.wp-block-gallery.has-nested-images { grid-template-columns: 1fr 1fr; }\n\t.bb-st-mosaic.wp-block-gallery.has-nested-images .wp-block-image:first-child { grid-column: span 2; grid-row: auto; }\n\t.bb-st-roster ul { columns: 1; }\n\t.bb-st-split { grid-template-columns: 1fr; }\n\t.bb-st-author { grid-template-columns: 72px 1fr; }\n\t.bb-st-author img { width: 72px; height: 72px; }\n\t.bb-st-band .bb-st-botanical, .bb-st-letter .bb-st-botanical, .bb-st-cta .bb-st-botanical { display: none; }\n}\n<\/style>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bb-st-byline\"><span>Por Nidia Meza<\/span><span>Director General, BASIC<\/span><span class=\"bb-st-byline__src\">24 de febrero de 2026<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bb-st-deck wp-block-paragraph\">Cuando Jimena Ochoa entr\u00f3 en la universidad de sus sue\u00f1os, el precio casi le cerr\u00f3 las puertas. Una beca de su ciudad natal le permiti\u00f3 seguir adelante.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group bb-st-lede is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignright size-large bb-st-float-r bb-st-portrait\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/borregobasic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/portrait.jpg\" alt=\"Jimena Ochoa in a red graduation gown, cap in hand, on a lawn lined with palm trees\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Jimena Ochoa, graduada de la escuela secundaria Borrego Springs en 2025, ahora es una Bruin.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bb-st-first wp-block-paragraph\">Cuando Jimena Ochoa, graduada de Borrego Springs, tuvo la oportunidad de elegir d\u00f3nde terminar su licenciatura, de repente se encontr\u00f3 con lo que muchos estudiantes de pueblos peque\u00f1os sue\u00f1an: opciones. Tras a\u00f1os de arduo trabajo, fue aceptada en varias universidades excelentes y finalmente acept\u00f3 la que siempre hab\u00eda deseado: la Universidad de California en Los \u00c1ngeles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Entonces vio el precio. Con unos gastos anuales estimados de 142.000 d\u00f3lares, la ilusi\u00f3n de ir a UCLA pronto se vio empa\u00f1ada por el temor de que estuviera fuera de su alcance econ\u00f3mico. \u201cEmpec\u00e9 a sentir que mis sue\u00f1os se desvanec\u00edan\u201d, escribi\u00f3 en una carta a BASIC, la organizaci\u00f3n sin \u00e1nimo de lucro de Borrego Springs que le hab\u00eda concedido una beca local.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Jimena solicit\u00f3 m\u00e1s ayuda y consigui\u00f3 becas para cubrir su matr\u00edcula y cuotas, pero a\u00fan le quedaban muchos gastos: un dep\u00f3sito para la vivienda, las cuotas de orientaci\u00f3n, el costo de las transcripciones, los materiales de clase y una computadora port\u00e1til que necesitaba para seguir el ritmo de sus cursos. La beca BASIC la ayud\u00f3 a cubrir esos gastos restantes y a comenzar su primer a\u00f1o en UCLA con una base s\u00f3lida.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<dl class=\"bb-st-facts\">\n\t<div><dt>Ciudad natal<\/dt><dd>Manantiales de Borrego<\/dd><\/div>\n\t<div><dt>Campus<\/dt><dd>UCLA<\/dd><\/div>\n\t<div><dt>Costo anual<\/dt><dd>Aproximadamente $42,000<\/dd><\/div>\n\t<div><dt>Lo que cubre BASIC<\/dt><dd>El vac\u00edo que dejaron las subvenciones<\/dd><\/div>\n<\/dl>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Vistos, valorados y cuidados<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cDe todo coraz\u00f3n, gracias por ayudar a aliviar la carga financiera que intimida a muchos estudiantes de primera generaci\u00f3n y por recordarnos que somos vistos, valorados y apoyados\u201d, escribi\u00f3 Jimena. Para ella, el apoyo de BASIC no se trata solo de dinero. Es una se\u00f1al tangible de que su peque\u00f1o pueblo cree que merece estar en uno de los escenarios m\u00e1s importantes de la educaci\u00f3n superior p\u00fablica.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-pullquote bb-st-pull\"><blockquote><p>Las barreras monta\u00f1osas que rodean Borrego Springs no son lo suficientemente altas ni fuertes como para detener a un ni\u00f1o con sue\u00f1os a\u00fan m\u00e1s grandes.<\/p><cite>Jimena Ochoa<\/cite><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Jimena tambi\u00e9n se\u00f1ala algo que todo estudiante rural de Borrego Springs comprende instintivamente: la geograf\u00eda puede sentirse como el destino. Escribi\u00f3 sobre lo que significa irse a &quot;la enorme ciudad de Los \u00c1ngeles&quot; sabiendo que toda una comunidad la apoya. Dice que va &quot;sin miedo&quot;, confiando en que sus seguidores en casa la est\u00e1n &quot;animando en cada paso del camino&quot;.\u201c<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-2 is-cropped alignwide bb-st-grid bb-st-grid--2 wp-block-gallery-1 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/borregobasic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/podium.jpg\" alt=\"Jimena Ochoa speaking at the podium during the Borrego Springs High School graduation, classmates in red seated behind her\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">En el podio la noche de su graduaci\u00f3n, con las monta\u00f1as de Santa Rosa de fondo.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/borregobasic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/celebration.jpg\" alt=\"Jimena Ochoa in cap and gown holding a bouquet and balloons above her head at an outdoor graduation, mountains behind\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">\u00a1Por fin, opciones!.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Una de docenas de historias<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Su historia es una de las muchas que han surgido del programa de becas de BASIC, que ayuda a estudiantes actuales y antiguos de la escuela secundaria Borrego Springs, as\u00ed como a adultos de la zona, a continuar sus estudios en programas de formaci\u00f3n profesional, colegios comunitarios y universidades de todo el pa\u00eds. Estas becas forman parte del enfoque integral de BASIC, que busca garantizar que los residentes de Borrego reciban apoyo educativo en cada etapa de su vida: infancia, preescolar, primaria y secundaria, universidad y m\u00e1s all\u00e1.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Los responsables de BASIC afirman que, para muchos estudiantes, las mayores barreras no son las cartas de admisi\u00f3n ni el rendimiento acad\u00e9mico, sino las presiones financieras cotidianas que conlleva la educaci\u00f3n superior: dep\u00f3sitos para vivienda, transporte, tecnolog\u00eda y la larga lista de requisitos obligatorios incluidos en los programas de estudio. Las becas locales no pueden eliminar todos los obst\u00e1culos, pero pueden marcar la diferencia entre posponer la matr\u00edcula y seguir adelante, entre completar cr\u00e9ditos a tiempo parcial y comprometerse plenamente con una titulaci\u00f3n.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">La carta de Jimena nos recuerda que cuando las peque\u00f1as comunidades invierten en sus estudiantes, el impacto va mucho m\u00e1s all\u00e1 de un solo semestre. Cada contribuci\u00f3n, ya sea de donantes individuales, empresas u organizaciones colaboradoras, transmite un mensaje claro a los estudiantes de primera generaci\u00f3n y de zonas rurales: sus sue\u00f1os son v\u00e1lidos y no tienen que perseguirlos solos.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"bb-st-cta\">\n\t<h2>\u00bfTe inspir\u00f3 la historia de Jimena?<\/h2>\n\t<p>El plazo de solicitud de becas de BASIC para el a\u00f1o acad\u00e9mico 2026-2027 est\u00e1 abierto desde <strong>Del 2 al 13 de marzo de 2026<\/strong>. Se anima a presentar su solicitud a los estudiantes locales de \u00faltimo a\u00f1o de secundaria, a los exalumnos de Borrego Springs y a los estudiantes adultos que cumplan con los requisitos de residencia o trabajo en el \u00e1rea del Distrito Escolar Unificado de Borrego Springs.<\/p>\n\t<a class=\"bb-st-btn\" href=\"https:\/\/borregobasic.org\/es\/scholarships\/\">Requisitos, cronograma y preguntas frecuentes<\/a>\n\t<span class=\"bb-st-botanical\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><svg viewbox=\"0 0 120 150\" fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"1.4\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" focusable=\"false\" role=\"presentation\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t<path d=\"M32 146C18 133 13 108 22 90C31 73 51 71 63 84C75 97 75 124 63 138C54 148 41 151 32 146Z\"\/>\n\t\t\t<path d=\"M59 90C53 69 61 46 76 38C91 30 106 41 108 59C110 76 98 93 81 97C70 99 62 97 59 90Z\"\/>\n\t\t\t<g fill=\"currentColor\" fill-opacity=\".45\" stroke=\"none\">\n\t\t\t\t<circle cx=\"34\" cy=\"102\" r=\"1.5\"\/><circle cx=\"46\" cy=\"94\" r=\"1.5\"\/><circle cx=\"38\" cy=\"119\" r=\"1.5\"\/>\n\t\t\t\t<circle cx=\"51\" cy=\"110\" r=\"1.5\"\/><circle cx=\"44\" cy=\"134\" r=\"1.5\"\/><circle cx=\"57\" cy=\"124\" r=\"1.5\"\/>\n\t\t\t\t<circle cx=\"72\" cy=\"54\" r=\"1.5\"\/><circle cx=\"86\" cy=\"50\" r=\"1.5\"\/><circle cx=\"78\" cy=\"70\" r=\"1.5\"\/>\n\t\t\t\t<circle cx=\"92\" cy=\"66\" r=\"1.5\"\/><circle cx=\"70\" cy=\"85\" r=\"1.5\"\/><circle cx=\"86\" cy=\"82\" r=\"1.5\"\/>\n\t\t\t<\/g>\n\t\t\t<g fill=\"currentColor\" fill-opacity=\".38\">\n\t\t\t\t<path d=\"M79 36c-5-7-4-15 2-19 5 4 7 13 3 19-2 1-4 1-5 0Z\"\/>\n\t\t\t\t<path d=\"M93 41c1-8 7-14 14-13 2 6-2 14-9 16-2 0-4-1-5-3Z\"\/>\n\t\t\t<\/g>\n\t\t<\/svg><\/span>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Cuando Jimena Ochoa entr\u00f3 en la universidad de sus sue\u00f1os, el precio casi le cerr\u00f3 las puertas. Una beca de su ciudad natal le permiti\u00f3 seguir adelante.<\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_bb_event_start":"","_bb_event_end":"","_bb_event_time":"","_bb_event_location":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[11],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-685","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-scholar-stories"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/borregobasic.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/685","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/borregobasic.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/borregobasic.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/borregobasic.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/borregobasic.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=685"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/borregobasic.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/685\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":747,"href":"https:\/\/borregobasic.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/685\/revisions\/747"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/borregobasic.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=685"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/borregobasic.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=685"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/borregobasic.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=685"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}