This Whittier College alum learned that it’s never too late to set new career goals – and to succeed at them. Emily Baeza, 33, worked as the second assistant director on the Oscar-nominated film “American Fiction,” which is up for five nominations, including best picture, at the 96th Academy Awards on Sunday, March 10. In high school, Baeza was encouraged by one of her teachers at Montebello High School to apply to Whittier College, the four-year liberal arts college It had small class sizes and programs, that seemed just right for her. She joined the Whittier Scholars Program, which allows students to design their own degrees. She tailored her studies to cover a diverse mix of journalism, creative writing, and environmental science. Her main focus of study became media and how it interacts with the community. “A large part of my experience at Whittier revolved around collaboration and empathy,” she said. “From performing with the brass ensemble to my sisterhood with the Thal...