BY LUCIANA CHAVEZ
Contributing Writer
On May 22, during the graduation ceremonies at Merced College’s Los Banos Campus, two “moms” will be receiving their diplomas after a long journey to earning their associates degrees.
These women are fulfilling the ever-challenging dual roles of student and mother: Maria Romo, who has earned an A.A. degree in Early Childhood Education, and Vicky Laguna, who has earned A.A.-Transfer degrees in Psychology and Sociology. Both will be transferring to CSU Stanislaus.
They are among the one-quarter of the 4.8 million U.S. undergraduate students who are raising children while attending college. Of those parents, 3.4 million are women, and 2.1 million specifically attend community colleges.
According to the “Working Mother Effect” advanced by the Gender Initiative at Harvard Business School, mothers who earn college degrees enhance both their and their family’s futures.
Maria Romo said that “education has been a big part of my family.” Romo has taken a non-traditional route to get there.
It was Romo’s college-aged sons who pushed their mother to enroll at Merced College. Her eldest son Jose Jr. was already in college at CSU Monterey Bay at the time. Her youngest, Adrian, who is graduating from CSUMB this month, helped her get online to apply.
Romo, 53, was inspired to start college because she wanted more responsibility in a classroom after years of volunteering at her son’s schools. She’ll continue working toward an Early Childhood Education degree at Stanislaus State after her Merced College graduation.
Romo advises mothers, who are wondering if they should go to college, to make haste. “I would tell other mothers that college is difficult, but doable,” she said. “It’s never too late. Having a family shouldn’t stop you from reaching your goals. Don’t be afraid!”
Romo appreciates her family for picking up the slack so she could go to class and study.
“I couldn’t do it without their help,” she said. “When I enrolled, God’s timing was perfect. My kids were grown up and didn’t need me 24/7. My son told me, ‘You were there when we needed you, Mom. Now it’s your time to shine.’
“Oh, it makes me emotional to share that. I just said, ‘You know what, mijo? Thank you.’ Those words keep me going stronger every day.”
Romo’s husband Jose Sr. works construction all over the Bay Area. Jose Jr., 24, uses his cinematic arts degree in Los Angeles. Adrian, 21, will graduate with a degree in film production this month.
“I’m fulfilling my own dreams now,” Romo said. “It’s going great.”
Vicky Laguna is not a mother herself, but after her own mother died from liver disease, she took on that role by assuming custody of her three younger brothers.
Laguna had to fight other family members for custody of Anthony, 17, Rudolfo, 11, and Sebastian, 9. She has also had to fight for her own sobriety, while managing dyslexia, ADHD and depression. She said she’ll continue to fight for her brothers as long as she lives.
Even before her mother died, it was Laguna who insisted that her brothers should start seeing a counselor to mourn properly.
“Going through the grief of losing my mother and continuing to be sober was a huge thing for me,” Laguna said. “I came out of it with more peace of mind to raise my brothers because I had therapy to help me.”
Now, she is inspired to become a therapist herself.
“I’ve been given all of this help throughout my life, so I want to give someone else a chance to change,” Laguna said.
With a busy schedule and kids, Laguna occasionally has to bring a brother or two to school with her. To them now, Merced College isn’t an intimidating place, but a welcoming one. Anthony will soon start some classes at Merced College.
“At first Anthony didn’t want to go to college; he just wanted to work,” Laguna said. “Then he met Scott Coahran, one of my professors, and now it’s not so foreign. When he comes here, he’ll be surrounded by people who want to achieve something. He’ll find his people.”
A few weekends ago, when Laguna attended Warrior Welcome orientation at Stanislaus State, Rudolfo tagged along.
“Rudolfo said now he definitely wants to come to Stanislaus State,” Laguna said. “He had so much fun. It’s been good to show them what it’s like. I was never exposed to that growing up. My brothers will be.”
