Leticia Aguilar said she started to take classes at Sierra College ‘to give it a try.’ From the first class she knew it would be a challenge to write in English and to pay for the education as tuition and book costs were high. However, also from the first moment, Leticia was determined to complete her studies.
‘I always think positive and I jump over the fences that get in my way,’ Leticia said.
This past May, Leticia Aguilar, age 50, a Truckee resident and the owner of Lety’s Family Daycare and Pre-School, graduated with honors from Sierra College. After seven years of determined hard work, she obtained a degree in Associate of Arts, Early Childhood Education, and another degree in Associate of Arts, Early Childhood Education Site Supervisor.
Leticia emigrated to the United States of America in 1971 when she was 14 years old; her sister asked her to come to Sacramento to take care of her five nephews, ages one to five. Since a young age, Leticia’s life has been centered on children.
Back in Mexico, her country of birth, Leticia hadn’t had the opportunity to study, as she came from a family of 18 children. In June 2000, she started her classes in Sierra College, ‘because I wanted to progress,’ she said. Leticia worked from 6:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., prepared her husband’s dinner and then left to attend her classes from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. After that, when she came home from classes, she still had to keep studying.
Today, Leticia is really proud of all the effort she made. ‘I feel my life has changed since I started studying. I am a professional and the people respect me more,’ she said.
When Leticia started at the College, she was the only Latina in her classes, and although she sometimes heard comments she disliked, she did not pay attention to them and continued to pursue her dream. She also met some nice students who offered help.
Leticia always asked her teachers to treat her as any other student. ‘I might have had grammar mistakes, but I always tried hard to learn to do the best, and the teachers told me they were giving me the opportunity because they knew I really wanted it,’ Leticia said.
Barbara Robertson, her Human Development teacher, always encouraged her to continue with her classes. ‘Until now I have her in my thoughts, she is a very good person,’ Leticia said.
Her Speech teacher, after Leticia’s last presentation, publicly recognized Leticia’s hard work. The teacher told everyone in the class that Leticia was her first Latina student, and became a model student; at first she was very nervous when giving speeches, but had gained confidence as class progressed.
Eve Quesnel, her English teacher, and whom Leticia now calls her friend, wrote and dedicated a poem to her. ‘She made me feel like an important person, her words were very important and touching to me,’ Leticia said.
Leticia says she felt recognized and supported by all of her teachers, ‘They made me feel that I was not a Mexican, but that I was like any other person here in the United States.’
Leticia was the first Mexican to seek an Early Childhood Education degree at Sierra College. During her second year she convinced three other Mexican ladies to take the classes, and this year she met 12 Mexican women who are attending classes at Sierra College. Leticia volunteered to help other Latinas by translating chapters of the academic books and explaining assignments they did not understand.
Leticia plans to continue her studies in the University of Nevada, Reno, starting January 2008; she wants to get a degree for Early Childhood Education Director, and dreams of opening a Pre-School for 70 kids. Currently she has 14 children in her Family Daycare and Pre- School at her own residence.
Leticia Aguilar is, for sure, an example to follow.
