NW Valley Times

Tanya Alegria, a recent graduate from Grand Canyon University, overcame a challenging past marked by homelessness and substance abuse to achieve her academic goals. Her life story was punctuated by the mantra, “Let your life preach louder than your lips,” as she received her degree at the Spring Commencement ceremony.

Alegria's journey began in Los Angeles, where she grew up in a single-parent household marred by addiction, abuse, and neglect. At 14 years old, she left home due to her mother's struggles with addiction and faced homelessness throughout her teenage years. To survive these harsh circumstances, Alegria joined a street gang for protection and camaraderie.

However, tragedy struck when Alegria was 18 years old and expecting her first child. The father of her son was tragically killed, leaving Alegria without the chance to start her own family as she had hoped. Following this devastating incident, she returned to her old neighborhood but soon found herself homeless again after clashing with her mother.

“I had a friend’s family offer to help me with housing," Alegria recalled. "They were so kind, but I didn’t feel like I belonged there."

For 11 years following this period of instability, Alegria battled daily struggles with homelessness, gang affiliations and addiction while trying to provide for four children. However, a pivotal moment arrived when a woman from church called and offered to pray for her during one of the darkest nights of her life.

This phone call marked the beginning of change for Alegria. Soon after this interaction, she moved to Arizona with bus tickets gifted by her twin sister. In Arizona, she found community support that helped facilitate healing and growth in her life.

After earning her high school diploma in Arizona, Alegria pursued higher education at Grand Canyon University (GCU), inspired by a coworker's positive experience at the institution. She appreciated the integration of faith into the curriculum at GCU, which aligned with her personal beliefs and values.

Alegria’s journey culminated in earning a bachelor's degree in sociology from GCU. Today, she dedicates her life to supporting vulnerable populations, working with organizations that assist at-risk youth, individuals struggling with addiction and homelessness, among others. Alegria has been in recovery for 18 years and continues to thrive despite her past challenges.

“I kept thinking about crossing that stage and getting that diploma for my kids and to know that no matter where you come from, you can still do it," Alegria said. "I’m not surviving anymore, I’m thriving.”