On Saturday, as she prepares to cross the platform and receive her degree in Early Childhood Education, Mlrta Xitumul will look out across the w88 online casino betting Quadrangle and see more than a sea of white chairs, filled with friends and families of the graduates.
The 49-year-old native of Guatemala will think of w88 online casino betting own family, certainly.
Her thoughts will also drift to members of what has become her extended w88 online casino betting of Nevada, Reno family – to faces of a special group of women who, over the past four years, have encouraged Xitumul every step of the way.
“Without them,” she said recently, “I could not have done this. I&w88 online casino betting;ve tried (college) before and for a number of reasons could not get to this point. Now I&w88 online casino betting;m here. I couldn&w88 online casino betting;t have done it without their support.”
Four years ago, Eva w88 online casino betting, a professor in the Department of Human Development and Family Studies in the College of Education, gathered eight women who were teachers in the local Head Start Program. Essa had just received word that the Department of Health and Human Services in Washington, D.C., had awarded w88 online casino betting funding for a five-year program to support a group of Hispanic Head Start teachers in attaining their college degrees.
Head Start is a national w88 online casino betting that promotes school readiness by enhancing the social and cognitive development of children through the provision of educational, health, nutritional, social and other services to enrolled children and families.
Among them was Xitumul. w88 online casino betting degree in Early Childhood Education is the culmination of a series of support meetings the group has convened, almost from the beginning of the program. She has had to balance work, family and coursework. When she came to America 14 years ago, obtaining a college degree seemed about as far removed from w88 online casino betting life as the country she had just left.
“This group of women has struggled and faced many challenges in this quest, but they have persevered and are progressing toward their goals,” said Essa, who added that in 40 years as an educator, few groups of students have had as personal of an impact on w88 online casino betting as this group of women. She notes that two of the women in the group have had babies since the start of the grant and most of them have faced personal challenges. A few have had more than their share of doubts; none, though, have given in to those doubts.
&w88 online casino betting;When they first came to our campus, they were intimidated and awed by this new environment,” Essa said. &w88 online casino betting;But they found that they have much to offer because of their unique backgrounds and experiences.
“Several are haunted by cultural and gender messages that they have heard all of their lives about topics like mathematics. But they have continued to face their fears, work with tutors, and are getting through the required classes. Overall, it has been a wonderful experience for all of us, including me as I&w88 online casino betting;ve watched this group gain in confidence, excitement, determination and strength.”
One of the group&w88 online casino betting;s members, Maria Brannum, is considered the “shepherdess” of the group. The hard-working, extremely organized 53-year-old mother of three likened the process to having a series of balls in the air. Depending on the situation, she said with a smile, you balance family, or school, or work – and somehow manage to deftly keep all of the balls in the air.
“A lot of it has had to do with prioritizing and sacrificing,” she said. “There are a lot of sacrifices. But it&w88 online casino betting;s all been worth it. One of the greatest messages we&w88 online casino betting;ve received from this program is that although we are all different, we are all special … we&w88 online casino betting;re all unique with special talents.”
Reena Arias, 20, is the youngest member of the group. The fulltime student at the w88 online casino betting had served as a substitute teacher in the Head Start Program. She said having a group to share experiences with – whether those experiences are in the classroom, or as a young Latina in an ever-changing world – has played an instrumental role in her success as a person and as a student.
“I came to the w88 online casino betting from Las Vegas, without a lot of friends,” she said. “This group of women has become my family, and Dr. Essa been so friendly, and so supportive. Really and truly, along with the children we have in Head Start, this group has been my inspiration.”
Essa said it will be difficult to not get emotional on Saturday. She will think of all of the women who continue to be a part of the program, from Brannum&w88 online casino betting;s ability to gather the group to Arias&w88 online casino betting; zest for her Head Start students.
w88 online casino betting will think, too, of:
Elizabeth Aranda – “She&w88 online casino betting;s like a rock, a simply wonderful, very responsible, caring person,” Essa said;
Elsa Farias – who had earned a teaching-related degree in Mexico and now, thanks to the program, is one class and a thesis removed from achieving her master&w88 online casino betting;s degree;
Viviana Gonzalez – one of the great success stories of the program, who wasn&w88 online casino betting;t immediately accepted into the program until she took full course loads of 12 credits for several semesters. “And saying,” Essa added, “I can do this”;
Maritza Herrera – who has prospered in the program while working diligently on w88 online casino betting English language skills;
Laura Lopez – &w88 online casino betting;The social bee … a great organizer and great at pulling things together,” Essa said.
And when Essa sees Xitumul receive her degree from College of Education Dean William Sparkman and President Milton Glick on Saturday, Essa said, “I&w88 online casino betting;ll probably cry. It&w88 online casino betting;s been an emotional journey for all of them, as well as for me. I realize how hard these women have worked and how much of themselves they&w88 online casino betting;ve put into it.”
Essa added that the success of the program could not have been possible without the support of Leah Sanders, the designated mentor for the participants, and the administrators of Head Start, who have arranged schedules and re-arranged schedules so the teachers could attend classes at the w88 online casino betting.
For Xitumul, who hopes to perhaps write children&w88 online casino betting;s books in the near future, Saturday&w88 online casino betting;s ceremony will be anything but a final act. When she walks across the platform, the hopes and dreams of seven other women will accompany her every step.
“Before, when we&w88 online casino betting;ve seen those white chairs (on the Quad), Dr. Essa has told us, ‘One day you&w88 online casino betting;ll be in that place,” she said, noting that she fully expects all of her classmates to soon graduate as well. “It&w88 online casino betting;s exciting to know that (on Saturday) I will be in that moment. I will be extremely proud to be there. I will think of my mom, my dad, my children, my friends … and these women. They will be there with me.”
