Graduating from Leeward Community College is an extraordinary accomplishment for Sasha DeLima, after overcoming devastating adversity, including struggling as a low-income single mother, surviving domestic abuse and losing a beloved family member. Despite these challenges, and with the support of her family and friends, DeLima will soon be a first-generation college graduate.
Young single mother
DeLima was born in Kailua, Oʻahu, but moved to California with her grandparents while still an infant.
“Growing up, my mom (also a single mother) was always working and they (grandparents) practically raised me.” she recalled.
After graduating from high school in California she took a year off, unsure of what to do. She had a desire to take care of her aging grandparents, and this led her to explore work as a pharmacy technician, with aspirations of becoming a pharmacist.
Her plans to attend pharmacy college in California changed, however, after the birth of her son in 2017. Soon after, while on a trip to visit family in Hawaiʻi, she broke up with her then boyfriend and was unable to return to California. Having only the “shirt on her back,” she worked hard to earn full custody of her son and was determined to build a life on Oʻahu.
Depression and abuse
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A spinal injury that resulted from complications during childbirth continued to impact her, and DeLima fell into depression. Her friends and family encouraged her to socialize. After making an effort, she began dating someone, but he turned out to be manipulative and abusive. He assaulted her, stole her car and was later arrested for attempted robbery. DeLima later found out that he abused drugs.
This happened while she was trying to go back to college at Leeward CC in 2019, and her abuser prevented her from attending classes.
Returning to college
Her family and her best friend continued to support DeLima and encouraged her to go back to college, after leaving her abuser. Her best friend even paid off her outstanding debt so she could return to Leeward CC.
“When the abuse happened… I thought everything was my fault,” she said. “He wouldnʻt allow me to go to school, wouldn’t allow me to go to work. But, once I found my way out, I took that chance and I never looked back.”
Upon her return to college, she was doing very well until her grandfather fell ill and eventually passed. It was very difficult for DeLima. Not knowing where to turn, she sought help from her Leeward CC counselors in order to keep up with her classes and provide support for her family.
“ I’m so thankful that I had the support and the knowledge from people here at Leeward,” she said. “ Everybody was there when I needed them the most. I would not have been able to make Papa (her grandfather) as comfortable as he was before he left us (without their support).”
The future
On May 10, DeLima will proudly participate in commencement with Leeward CC’s class of 2024. After receiving her associate degree in liberal arts, she will attend University of Hawaiʻi–West Oʻahu to pursue a bachelor’s degree and plans to continue on to medical school at UH Mānoa.
Despite not having a college graduate within her immediate family to encourage her, DeLima always valued higher education.
“This is the path I want to be on because now I have my own son. Since I didn’t have that role model… I want to be my own role model to my family,” DeLima said. “I finally see the light at the end of the tunnel. I’m just thankful that I’m here—I’m just overwhelmed with joy and happiness.”
