JC Nevarez overcame addiction and is now finding belonging—and forging a vision for her future—in FRCC’s Ram Transfer.
On a busy Monday afternoon, 41-year-old Juelz Nevarez—who goes by JC—had just finished class for the day.
“I just got out of sociology,” she said, squeezing in time to talk between printing a philosophy paper and heading to her next commitment.
Focusing on Her Future
For JC, being a college student isn’t just about assignments and exams. It’s about building a future that once felt impossible.
Through the Ram Transfer Academy (RTA) at Front Range Community College, that future is quickly coming into focus.
RTA is designed to make transferring to Colorado State University easier by providing a variety of resources and supports to help students along the way, such as student success coaches, special courses and dual student benefits.
Starting Over and Showing Up
“I dropped out of college because of life and drugs,” JC shares. “That was over 20 years ago. Life has been a struggle. I am Hispanic and first-generation.”
For years, school felt out of reach. But choosing sobriety and stability changed everything.
“Stopping drugs and living life as a part of a community has made quite the difference,” she reflects. “I’m realizing I don’t want to work in a fast-food restaurant my whole life and there are other things I could do. Going back to school has been exponential for me.”
Learning How to Learn Again
Coming back wasn’t easy.
“At first, being the older one in my classes was a struggle, along with having a gap in my years of schooling,” JC says. “I had to learn how to learn again.”
But what JC found at FRCC changed her perspective.
“I felt inclusion from students and staff here on campus… We all belong somewhere, and right now I belong here,” she says.
From Music to Mission
JC returned to FRCC in 2023, initially pursuing a music degree. But after reflection and conversations with faculty and career counselors, a new path emerged.
“I changed my degree to psychology, and I’m hopefully going for a PhD… I’m almost done with my associate degree, and then I’ll be transferring to CSU,” she says. “I’m on a mission.”
Her next step is part of a deeply personal vision.
“My dream is to own my own practice and provide counseling and therapy for LGBTQ youth,” JC shares.
Building Community at FRCC
JC is completely embedded in her FRCC community.
She works as a peer mentor in the Academic Success Center, helping students with organization and success strategies. She also works part time in the cafeteria and is a commanding officer in the Sexuality and Gender Alliance (SAGA) club, helping plan inclusive campus events.
“FRCC is very welcoming,” she says. “Coming from a place where I didn’t feel worthy or like I belonged, I came here and knew I belong here.”
That sense of belonging is something she doesn’t take for granted.
“I thought I was going to be a nobody, and that I wouldn’t live past 40,” JC says. “But here I am, almost done with my associate degree and making friends.”
A Smooth Path Forward with the Ram Transfer Academy
As graduation from FRCC approaches, the Ram Transfer Academy is playing a key role in what comes next for JC.
Through RTA, she connected early with CSU advisors and university partners, visited the campus in Fort Collins and gained clarity.
“By the end of that visit, I knew that my next step was CSU. Having contact with everyone who runs the academy has been immensely helpful,” she says. “Anytime we have a problem or a question, they answer it. They’re really helping us achieve that bigger vision for our life.”
Becoming a Confident Ram
Being involved in the transfer academy has helped JC feel confident in her next steps.
“it’s just a relief,” she says.
Through RTA, JC gained a RamCard, which includes access to CSU campus resources like the rec center and library, research opportunities and insider knowledge about university life, from football games to academic buildings.
“They took us on campus, and they walked us around,” she says. “They showed us the different buildings… Without that you’re going to be lost.”
Instead of stepping into the unknown, JC is stepping into a transition she’s prepared for.
Advice for Future Students
For students considering FRCC or the Ram Transfer Academy, JC’s advice is simple:
“Take the initiative to use the resources, because once you get to a bigger campus, it’s not as individualized,” she says. “You’re able to get a little bit more individual care at FRCC, so take advantage of it.”
And for those wondering whether it’s too late to start over?
“Sometimes our dreams come true without us even realizing it,” she says. “If you have strength and resilience, your life can change, and change isn’t always for the worst.”
“Change can sometimes be for the best, even though we have to work through it.”
Beyond the Classroom
Outside of classes and campus involvement, JC also hosts a podcast called Talking T-ea, where she interviews guests from all walks of life, sharing their stories of struggle and success to help others feel less alone.
It’s one more way she’s already living her mission.
From overcoming addiction to mentoring peers, and from doubting her future to planning for a PhD, JC’s story is one of resilience. She shows us what’s possible when opportunity meets support.
