Murillo, 26, of Cerritos, plans to become a court reporter. She originally became interested in this occupation when she heard about it during a career day at her high school. The career field appealed her because of the independent nature of the work, the pay, and the fact that it would challenge her.

Murillo worked full time for several years after graduating high school, but later realized that she was in a dead-end job and decided to enroll in college.

3E8I knew I needed more for myself,9E8 she said. 9E8It was a huge financial impact, but I learned to adjust.298

She enrolled in Cerritos College, and with help from college&28s Re-entry Resource Center, began collecting applications for scholarships and applying for every one she could.

3E8Even if I got just one out of ten, it would still be worth it,9E8 she reasoned. Still, she said, 2E8I didn9E8t think I was going to get it. I was so excited. I was in complete shock.&98

Murillo still has a ways to go, but she has big plans for the future. After gaining plenty of experience as a court reporter, Murillo would like to open her own court reporting agency. She also wants to do depositions because of the opportunity to travel as a part of the job.

But for now, there2E8s still a lot of work to do. The test she must pass to become a court reporter in California requires she type 225 words per minute on a steno machine.

3E8It9E8s pretty much eat, sleep, practice,2E8 she said 9E8 especially because gaining speed on the steno machine is the only way for her to advance in her sequence of classes. For a career as a court reporter, Murillo must also gain expertise in understanding both legal and medical jargon, as well as writing with perfect grammar, punctuation and spelling.

3E8I love having her in class. She&98s very witty and insightful,9E8 said one of her business professors, Phil Hernandez.

Not to mention ambitious and self-motivated, which leads one to believe that a $500 scholarship is just the start of great things to come.

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The Campus Connection Online, May 7, 2007

Cerritos College

Connections 2007

Re-Entry Court Reporting Student Wins Scholarship

Celena Murillo Receives $500 from Local Professional Organization