After graduating from high school, Irvine Valley College (IVC) graduate Teanna Gonsalves set out to fulfill a lifelong dream – to serve her country. At just 18, she enlisted in the U.S. Air Force, with her first station in Minot, North Dakota – a post she describes as “known for its below-freezing temperatures and wind speeds strong enough to break your car door.”
Originally from Medford, Oregon, Teanna was adopted at the age of seven after a stint in the foster care system while her biological mother faced personal and legal challenges. Over six years of service, her career took her far from Oregon and North Dakota, with assignments and travel to South Korea, Vietnam, Malaysia, and beyond. The discipline and purpose she found in the military became a turning point.
Serving in the security forces, Teanna developed skills she says continue to shape her today. “The experience taught me to be disciplined, responsible, and resilient – and to work well with others,” she reflects. “I left the military a much stronger version of myself.”
But her service was not without hardship. “What they don’t tell you about enlisting is that there will be a lot of tough times,” she says. “You face battles no one can truly prepare you for. I missed every family event back home – weddings, birthdays, funerals, births – and I also witnessed friends lose their own battles with depression while in the service.”
After completing her service, Teanna relocated to Orange County, determined to advocate for mental health awareness in the military community while pursuing her education. She chose Irvine Valley College for its robust veterans’ programs and found a supportive community at IVC’s Veteran Services Center (VSC).
“When you separate from the military, there’s often no one to help or support you,” she says. “IVC’s VSC welcomed me and helped me transition smoothly to civilian life.” Through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Teanna worked as a student assistant at IVC’s VSC, an invaluable experience that opened her eyes to the many challenges veterans face. “My work at VSC equipped me with crucial tools and connections to help my fellow servicemembers and helped me realize how vital it is to have accessible resources, effective programs, and a supportive community.”
Teanna’s academic excellence matched her dedication. She graduated cum laude from IVC in 2024 with associate degrees in accounting and liberal arts, earning numerous scholarships, among them the Women’s Warrior Leadership Scholarship, the Veterans Scholarship, and the Maxwell Family Scholarship.
“Teanna is an amazing woman, and I’m grateful she’s allowed me to support her and be part of her journey,” says Rose Adon, a senior veterans specialist at IVC. “I truly believe she can accomplish anything she sets her mind to.”
Today, Teanna is continuing her education at Chapman University, pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with plans to earn her MBA. Her long-term goal: to launch her own business with a nonprofit arm dedicated to providing mental health services for veterans. Ultimately, she says, “I want to make a difference and support people – especially those who feel they don’t have a voice or are afraid to use their own.”