Experienced counselors, dedicated to your success

With more than 25 years of experience in education, school counseling, leadership, and college admissions, Maria Garcia has dedicated her career to helping students confidently navigate their path to higher education.

Maria has guided thousands of students and families through academic and college planning, applications, essays, scholarships, financial aid, extracurricular and leadership development, and college selection. Her experience spans public, private, international, and faith-based education, including extensive knowledge of highly selective universities, UC and CSU systems, private and Christian colleges, and student-athlete pathways.

Maria holds two master's degrees, a California Pupil Personnel Services Credential in School Counseling, and a California Administrative Credential. Fluent in English and Spanish, she brings both professional expertise and personalized guidance to every family.

At Bright Path Educational Counseling, Maria is committed to helping every student pursue opportunities aligned with their unique strengths, goals, and future aspirations.

As Co-Founder of Bright Path Educational Counseling, Alejandro Hernandez brings a strong financial perspective to the college planning process. His work is guided by a core belief: a family's financial circumstances should not prevent a student from pursuing their higher education goals. He is committed to helping families understand the financial side of college and approach important decisions with greater clarity, confidence, and preparation.

Drawing on extensive professional experience in residential and commercial financing, Alejandro brings practical financial insight to conversations surrounding college affordability, financial aid, scholarships, tuition, and long-term planning. His background managing complex financial transactions enables him to help families evaluate their options strategically while considering both the student's educational goals and the family's overall financial well-being.

Alejandro's years of service as a church treasurer have further shaped his approach to stewardship, responsibility, and service. He combines financial knowledge with a compassionate, family-centered perspective, helping make an often complicated process easier to understand and navigate.

As a husband and father of two daughters, Alejandro understands personally the importance of preparing the next generation for a strong future. At Bright Path, his goal is to help families develop a thoughtful financial pathway to higher education — one that expands opportunities, supports informed decisions, and allows students to pursue their aspirations with confidence.

For Alejandro, college planning is not simply about financing an education — it is about helping families invest wisely in a student's future.

As Co-Founder of Bright Path Educational Counseling, Yasmin Hernandez is dedicated to empowering students to navigate their educational and career journeys with confidence, purpose, and a clear sense of direction. With a background in education and a passion for mentorship, she has seen firsthand how thoughtful guidance and personalized support can positively shape a student's future.

As both an educator and a mother of two daughters, Yasmin understands that every student's journey is unique. Her experiences have strengthened her belief that students thrive when they are given the opportunity to discover their strengths, explore possibilities, and make informed decisions that reflect their individual goals and aspirations.

At Bright Path, Yasmin is committed to creating a welcoming and supportive environment where students feel heard, valued, and encouraged. Her approach combines compassionate mentorship with personalized educational guidance, helping students and families navigate important academic and career decisions with greater clarity and confidence.

Through her work, Yasmin strives to make a meaningful and lasting difference in the lives of the students and families she serves — helping each student discover a path toward a brighter future.