My name is Melany Suner Soriano. I am a LAJC success story!

I remember telling my mother about my interest in college and she said “find a good man to marry you and take care of you”!!!!  I wanted more out of life. My father past away when I was 7years old and it was hard growing up with a step parent.  Step parents are a blessing for the mother but not always for the child?! My “Dad” (step parent) was always a good provider for us, we had food, clothes, and all the necessities, but college fund he only had for his biological children, which is understandable.

So I had LAJC who had lots of kids like me! I came out of the streets of Boyle heights always in gang related activities at the age of 15, 16, and 17!  Then I got my big brake, where I was not a nobody or nothing! I was somebody: I was part of Student body 11thfloor and also President of Studio Club! My time at Job Corps was truly a blessing and the best time of my life! It has made me who I am now: An Independent Mother of 2 and a home owner, who enjoys life and all it has to offer. I have been so blessed to be given the opportunity of a life time and the best part is that it was all free!

I started with LAMTA 17 years ago, fresh out of TCU! I did HR for one year, after customer service information for 7years (1800-COMMUTE), then I moved up to dealing with the public face to face for 8years! So all together 15years of dealing with the public! It really helps you appreciate who you are & what God has done for you, when you see so much poverty out there.  I am currently an ERS equipment records specialist & I love my job! I make sure all the buses from my Division 01 roll out on time and make sure they are clean fixed and ready to go. If one of my buses brakes down while on route, I dispatch a mechanic to pick It up and get a new bus to replace it.  I sometimes work long and I love my job and the life style I’d always dreamed for me and my kids! I do it all for them, so they will never have to experience what I did. Growing up in the hood!  My kids walk around knowing nothing about poverty, bugs or sharing a room.

Melany Suner Soriano

LAJC Alumni 1998