Julie will graduate from New Mexico State University with a bachelor’s degree in social work in May 2023. She plans to continue her studies to earn a master’s degree and is looking forward to her internship with Las Cruces Public Schools. Julie grew up in a single parent home and says, “I remember my mom struggling, but somehow, she always managed to give us everything. She never asked anyone for anything; she did it all by herself. For me, my mother is the strongest person I know. I always looked up to her and that will always be my motive to live life to the fullest. She held her head up high even when life got tough.”
In Julie’s first semester of college, her mother was diagnosed with a terminal illness. During the months that she cared for her mother and took care of her younger sister, she lost both of her jobs, missed a lot of classes, struggled to keep up her grades and was worried about losing her financial aid. When her mother died, Julie became the legal guardian for her then 9-year-old sister. Julie credits Alma Olacio, program specialist, at DACC and others at the college for helping her stay in school during this difficult period. She now works at the Gadsden Center with the AVANZA program and has a flexible schedule that allows her to spend time with her little sister. “I am proud of myself for how far I have gotten. I want to continue this way and grow more. This is something that I know my mom would be proud of,” Julie says.