海角直播

Publish Date: Aug. 18, 2022

While trying to motivate her youngest to stay in school, Maria Cristina Valencia was thrown a curve ball when asked why she never got a high school diploma.

The year was 2014, and Valencia and her son Alder were arguing because he did not want to go to school. But after things settled down, the now 50-year-old said she had a realization: Alder was right.

鈥淪o, I enrolled at (Yucaipa) Adult School and got my high school diploma,鈥� explained the Yucaipa resident.

But she wasn鈥檛 done yet. With encouragement from her family and the Yucaipa Adult School, Maria enrolled in her first class at 海角直播 in the summer of 2019 in pursuit of a higher education.

In May 2022 鈥� with Alder by her side 鈥� Valencia graduated from 海角直播 with an associate degree in Spanish, and has plans to attend Cal State San Bernardino in the fall to focus on pursuing a bachelor鈥檚 in early childhood development.

Valencia鈥檚 major motivation: her children.

鈥淚t was a family goal,鈥� she continued. 鈥�(Alder) was the one who inspired me. He was the one who kicked my butt.鈥�

Valencia migrated to the United States after leaving El Salvador during the Civil War. She worked while raising her two sons 鈥� now in their 20s 鈥� and added school to her already busy schedule to prove to herself that she 鈥渃ould do it.鈥�

鈥淢aria was one of my hardest working students,鈥� said Marcia Stewart, a teacher at Yucaipa Adult School (YAS). 鈥淪he completed her schoolwork every week, even as she was working two to three jobs, and has always inspired me and other students with her great work ethic.鈥�

鈥淢aria is the embodiment of perseverance and determination,鈥� Stewart continued. 鈥淪he is an incredible woman, and I am so honored I got to witness part of her journey.鈥�

Her children also took notice.

Alder also graduated in May with his AA in Business Administration, and plans on joining his mom on campus at CSUSB in the fall as well.

Valencia knows there鈥檚 still a lot of work ahead and is up to the challenge, citing public speaking was one of her toughest courses to date and that there鈥檚 potential on the horizon for similar challenging courses along the way.

鈥淏efore starting (public speaking), I was in a bit of a panic that I couldn鈥檛 speak in front of someone because of my English,鈥� she explained.鈥淏ut everybody, every single person encouraged me not to be afraid - and to not be afraid of my accent.鈥�

As far as the biggest piece of advice for students following in her footsteps,Valencia has one key word: Persist.

鈥淣ever give up because right now, there鈥檚 a lot of help out there. But if you don鈥檛 ask, you will never get that help,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 never thought I could graduate from 海角直播, but otherwise, I would just be sitting down doing nothing.鈥�

Each year, 海角直播 andYAS partner to help students pursue a higher education. This last semester, Roadrunner officials worked closely with 22 YAS adult learners by providing them with necessar y resources to make their educational goals a reality. Eight YAS leaners are currently enrolled in either 海角直播鈥檚 summer or fall semester credit courses, while two YAS students are participating in the site鈥檚 Adult Summer Bridge Program, of which Valencia is an alumna of.

To learn more about the program or 海角直播, go to craftonhills.edu