Little did June Parra know at age 14 that she would be sold by her mother into a life of service — cooking and cleaning in her aunt’s home care business in Oakdale, Calif.

Parra was born in Los Angeles but grew up in the Philippines, where she said she felt ugly, alone and unloved by her family, who called her names. She was always being compared to her sister, who had lighter skin. Her mother showed her little affection, and her father left the family when she was eight years old.

“No one told me that they loved me,” Parra said as tears welled up in her eyes.

Things got worse when she got to Oakdale. She started her days at 4 a.m. to cook breakfast and clean. At school, she became the target of bullies because she could only say her name and "hello" in English. After school, she would do laundry, cook and wash dishes.

When she turned 18, Parra told her Spanish teacher and a guidance counselor what she lived through for four years.

The teacher took her in and helped enroll her in a neighboring high school, where she graduated with her diploma. Then, Parra got her first job working at a coffee shop and met her first boyfriend, Jorge Parra, who would eventually become her husband.

Now, she’s looking to the future.

Her love of counseling started with an internship at the Educational Opportunity Program on campus, where she helped support first-generation and economically disadvantaged students. She earned her bachelor’s degree in liberal arts from Fresno State in 2014.

This year, the 26-year-old graduated from Fresno State with her master’s degree in counseling, student affairs and college counseling option. She wants to help students who struggled like she did.

“I can help them find success and growth and see a brighter future,” said Parra. “I want to give back, to help students stay resilient and never give up."

Story by BoNhia Lee, communications specialist for University Communications