You’ve seen my name pop up—on the website, hosting the podcast, in social media posts—but do you really know who I am? I thought about writing this in the third person, like a formal introduction, but that felt a little… impersonal. So here it is: my story, directly from me to you.

Let’s start with the basics: I’m a proud alumna of Pima Community College. But if you think I had it all figured out from the start, think again. My journey to Pima was more of a stumble than a planned path. Picture this: high school graduation, 2012. Most of my peers had college acceptance letters and meticulously outlined life plans. Me? I had… absolutely none of that.

Life hit me with a series of curveballs, and college wasn’t even on my radar. I hadn’t applied anywhere, I didn’t know what I wanted to do, and honestly, I wasn’t sure I could even make it through. It felt like I was standing at the edge of a cliff, looking down with no idea how to take the leap. The thought of college loomed over me like a dark cloud, an uncontrollable storm of emotion rolling in, but Pima turned out to be the sun shining through it all. The calm after the storm.

I started with general education courses, thinking I’d study criminal justice. At the time, I was juggling two, sometimes three jobs, and my schedule was chaotic. Full-time college wasn’t in the cards for me every semester, and there were moments I thought, “Maybe this isn’t for me.” By the age of twenty-one, I still didn’t have a clear direction. I was floating in a sea of success formed by my friends and peers, a moment where I should’ve been proud for them, but instead felt like I was about to sink into my own demise, unsure of how to stay afloat.

Then, the stars aligned—or maybe it was just an incredibly timely conversation. A coworker casually mentioned wanting to take a sewing class at Pima because she was interested in U of A’s fashion program at the time. Wait, fashion classes? I had no idea that was even a thing here in Tucson. Suddenly, I was Googling everything I could about Pima’s Fashion Design department, and before I knew it, I was signing up for classes.

The moment I stepped into the program, everything changed.

Now, don’t get me wrong—learning fashion design wasn’t a walk in the park. I’d never touched a sewing machine before and had no clue how much work went into constructing a garment. Spoiler alert: it’s a lot. There were late nights hunched over sewing projects, endless research, and even science (yes, textiles involve science!). But for the first time in my life, I wasn’t just going through the motions—I was hooked.

Sometimes, you must take a chance and you can’t give up.

I’m the person I am today because of Pima’s Fashion Design department. And let me tell you, that department is a hidden gem of the College. It’s a program run by Nancy Spaulding for the past 18 years, a powerhouse who has poured her heart and soul into keeping it alive and thriving. Nancy and the other instructors didn’t just teach me how to sew—they taught me to dream big, to trust my instincts, and to never stop creating.

Sometimes, you must dig to find the gold. And I’m so glad I did.

With my newfound passion, I earned my Associate of Arts degree with a concentration in Fashion Design and continued to take other art and fashion classes at the College.  A few years later, I decided to transfer to the University of Arizona to pursue my bachelor’s degree, and truth be told, Pima set me up for success in ways I couldn’t have imagined. I was set up for success.

College isn’t for everyone—but here’s the thing: you won’t know until you try.

Every opportunity I’ve had since then has stemmed from the foundation I built at Pima. It’s not just about the classes I took or the skills I learned—it’s about the confidence and curiosity it instilled in me. It’s about the people I met, the friendships created, the lessons learned and the road I traveled to get to where I am today. I get to continue my education, be creative and work every day for an institution to share the new, exciting and existing programs offered at the College with Tucson and beyond, hoping that someone who needs to hear the message does, and gets the chance, the opportunity that I did, no matter their age.

So, who is Savannah Franco? I’m an artist, a designer and a proud Pima Community College Alumna. And I’m living proof that sometimes, all it takes is one chance encounter, one brave decision, to completely change your life.

Watch Pima Voices and let’s get the conversation going.