Kristen Alvarado Sorto: A Study in Perseverance
From a young age, Kristen Alvarado Sorto has been passionate about hair, makeup, and nails. She sought out “Get Ready with Me” YouTube videos growing up and practiced the craft on herself and her sisters. At Central Piedmont Community College, she found a place where she could turn passion into a career with the cosmetology program.
Kristen, who hails from Charlotte but whose family is from El Salvador, ultimately became a shining example of what is possible when you follow a dream. Her time at Central Piedmont culminated with her serving as the college’s fall 2025 commencement speaker.
“Being the commencement speaker was truly an honor,” she says. “I come from an immigrant family. They came to the United States to give me a better education, a better life, something that they couldn't have. I had the opportunity to share my story and really inspire others that it is possible. That you can do it if you set your mind to it.”
In her speech, Kristen encouraged her fellow graduates to keep pushing.
“This moment is only the beginning of what each of us can achieve,” she said to her fellow students and the gathered crowd at Charlotte’s Bojangles Coliseum. “As we move forward, remember this one powerful truth: We are the generation rewriting our stories — one degree, one dream, and one victory at a time.”
Kristen toured many colleges before selecting Central Piedmont. None of them made her feel so welcome, and she knew she had found where she belonged.
Still, Kristen faced challenges early on as a full-time student while also working a full-time job.
“I remember the first week I started, I was really starting to question, ‘Is this really for me?’” she says. “I was just doubting myself. I was comparing myself to other people, and I was like, ‘Wow, their work is exceptional.’”
She found herself getting further behind as she tried to balance work with school and eventually had a failing GPA. But she is fond of saying the comeback is greater than the setback.
With her mind set on improvement, Kristen leaned on her instructors and advisors, who encouraged her, supported her, and boosted her confidence. She also relied on her deep faith in many challenging times. She emphasizes that fear — and fear of failure — are not important. Rather, it is important to come back and try again.
She utilized many resources at the college and encourages students to get involved in activities and clubs, to truly become part of the community.
Kristen’s next step will take place at UNC Charlotte, where she will study business administration to complement the services and techniques she learned at Central Piedmont. She plans to open her own salon one day, and she knows she needs to understand the business side of the operation to be successful.
Throughout her life, her cultural identity has played a significant role in shaping her, and she takes an immense amount of pride in her heritage.
“It's a very beautiful culture, and I always cherish that,” Kristen says. “While I was born in the United States, El Salvador means a lot to me, and I get to share my culture. I get to share my experience.”
She also credits her family for supporting and guiding her to her singular position in her class.
“As a first-generation college Latina graduate, it means everything to me,” she says. “Because while this diploma may have my name on it, it also carries their legacy, their sacrifice, their hard work. I know they're very proud of me, but also, I always have them in my heart.”