Maria Guadalupe Rivera
El Paso, 2022
In early 2021, Maria Guadalupe Rivera received a newsletter from her daughter’s elementary school inviting her to an informational meeting about the new AVANCE to College program. At the meeting, El Paso Community College Professor Rosa Galindo shared details about the new program, and Maria’s curiosity turned to excitement as she learned that the program was sponsored by the college. She had long dreamt of taking classes on a college campus and eagerly enrolled in the program’s first cohort with her youngest daughter.
Through the AVANCE to College parenting classes, Maria learned how to nurture her daughters’ growth and development. What resonated with her the most, though, were the lessons about her children’s emotional health. The program gave Maria the knowledge and tools to recognize her children’s emotions, understand their behavior, and ensure they feel loved. Following the program, she felt more prepared and confident to support her children as they grow into healthy, emotionally stable adults.
The program also prepared Maria to continue her education. Before joining AVANCE to College, Maria felt that being a parent limited what she could do, but the program opened her eyes to the possibilities and opportunities available to her. With the support of Professor Galindo, Maria also learned practical skills that aided her in making her dream of attending college a reality, things often taken for granted, like registering for classes, navigating the campus, and obtaining a parking permit and student ID. Since graduating from AVANCE to College, Maria has continued to prepare herself academically and is currently enrolled in grammar and math classes.
From her experience, Maria better understands that continuing her education will significantly influence the growth and success of her family. Today, her daughters are more confident and are thriving academically and socially. Maria’s older daughter aspires to become an attorney one day. Her younger daughter, who attended AVANCE to College, loves reading, drawing, and singing. She may only be four years old, but she already has her heart set on becoming a veterinarian. Grateful that AVANCE changed the trajectory of her life, Maria is now applying everything she has learned to build a better future for her family.