Graduate of 2018
When I began the effort of obtaining my High School Equivalency Certificate (HSE) I started in Corazon Healdsburg. The center gave us the opportunity to study. In one of the classes, we had a presentation from HEP where we were told about how they could help us and what we needed to apply to the program. I was quickly encouraged to enroll. At Corazon we had the support, but we had to wait to be able to take our exams until funding was available. HEP gave us the opportunity to test as soon as we felt ready and prepared. I didn’t care that I had to drive all the way to Santa Rosa because I didn’t want to wait and forget what I was learning.
My husband works in the fields in the grapevines. He works on cutting and pruning and anything that has to do with tending to the vines. I invited him to apply to HEP, but he tells me he doesn’t have the patience. Even so, I continue to motivate him, and now he is enrolled in ESL classes. Now he understands that going to school requires discipline and working on homework until two o three in the morning!
If I had to use one word to describe my experience in HEP it would be “Wonderful”. I met people that support you, that motivated you day by day. When they would see you down because you didn’t pass a test, they would never say anything other than “do not worry, you will get there, you have more opportunities, and next time you will get it”. Our tutor was of great help, she was a great base to help me achieve my certificate. Being a mother and going to school at the same time was very challenging. My classes were in the morning and from there I would leave for work. Later I would go home to do my role as a mom, a wife, and a homemaker, and to help my daughter with her homework. At the end of the day when everyone was sleeping, I would start my homework in the living room, and I would study and prepare for my exams. It is not the same when you are a parent, and you also must fulfill that role as a student. But as the saying goes “keep your eye on the goal”. It was difficult, but here is where your partner’s help is key. My husband would help me with the daily house chores, for example.
Now that I think about it, it has been very beneficial to get involved in my daughter’s education. Many subjects I studied then, I am now seeing with my daughter! When the pandemic began and classes began to be done through Zoom, everything was new for everybody. There were times that I felt I couldn’t help her with this technology stuff. One day I came to her room, and she was crying in front of the computer. I asked what was wrong and she told me she didn’t understand what the teacher was explaining. I told her maybe I could help, and her answer was “no, I don’t think you can”. I insisted and she finally told me they were working on an essay, exited, I told her that I knew about essays, that I LOVE them! Let’s work on that together! When she was done, she hugged me and told me “Thank you, Mami. I understood you better than the teacher!” So now, when my daughter has a question, she asks me. This feels me with so much pride!
There was another time when I was studying at Corazon and the local newspaper, La Voz, interviewed four students that had recently graduated. I was one of those students and I was able to share my experience. I remember that on that day, as usual, I left work in a hurry, picked up my daughter from school and went straight to Corazon for the interview. When we were done, they asked for my permission to ask my daughter a few questions. One of the questions was: “how do you feel about your mom being a student, working and being a homemaker?” Her answer was “I feel very proud of my mom, she is a clear example that it is never too late to accomplish your goals. I know that she stays up late to do her schoolwork, and I know she works hard. My mom is an example for me and when I sometimes feel like I can’t do something, I think about her.” That statement marked me, those were words that came from her heart, words you don’t expect to hear from your children. That motivated me even more and now I think about her words and remember that I am her role model, and I must show her that it is possible!
My certificate has been of great help. I never imagined the value and importance of having this certificate. Now that I am taking credit ESL classes, I can qualify for scholarships that require you to have your certificate. Even in job applications, it matters if you have your GED. I never thought it would be so important. I work in a liquor store. When I applied it said it was preferable that the applicant had a certain academic and language level and I was able to say, “I got it!”
One of my goals, and the reason I am continuing to study, is to be a Medical Assistant, and one of the requirements for this is to have the your High School Equivalency Certificate, along with a certain level in the English language. I accomplished one goal, now I’m going for the next. It opens a lot of doors. I have participated in the Board of Directors for Clinica Alianza of Healdsburg. When they found out I had my GED they asked if I wanted to work there. Unfortunately, they were not able to pay me for being bilingual. And the truth is I don’t want a piece of the cake, I want the whole thing. That’s why I want to continue with my academic progress to be able to be fully bilingual and be able to achieve the pay rate. I left the board and came back to school and my class hours didn’t let me participate in the meetings. I am now helping in another non-profit foundation called Nuestra Comunidad (Our Community) which serves Cloverdale and Windsor. The goal of this organization is to educate people on how to prepare for natural disasters and how to connect to 911 adequately and know that this service is there to help people. The founder worked for twenty years in the 911 service, and she learned there are a lot of people that have no idea what 911 is for or are afraid to call. Due to her personal and work experiences, she now wants to educate the community on how to call 911.