Westside Story Newspaper – Online The News of The Empire – Sharing the Quest for Excellence
YUCAIPA, CA — When Maria Cristina Valencia tried to convince her son Alder to stay in school, she never anticipated the question he would then ask her:
How could she insist he continued his studies when she did not have a high school diploma herself?
That moment in 2014 sparked the beginning of Valencia’s return to school. The now 50-year-old realized her son was right.
“So, I enrolled at (Yucaipa) Adult School and got my high school diploma,” explained the Yucaipa resident.
But she was not done yet. With encouragement from her family and the Yucaipa Adult School (YAS), Maria enrolled in her first class at Crafton Hills College (CHC) in the summer of 2019 to continue her studies.
In May 2022, Valencia graduated from CHC with an Associate in Arts in Spanish. Alder graduated alongside his mother in May with his Associate in Arts in Business Administration. Together, they will attend California State University San Bernardino (CSUSB). Valencia said she plans on pursuing a bachelor’s in early childhood development. She said her primary motivation continues to be her children.
“It was a family goal,” she continued. “(Alder) was the one who inspired me. He was the one who kicked my butt.”
Valencia migrated to the United States after leaving El Salvador during its civil war. She worked while raising her two sons, who are now in their 20s, and added school to her already busy schedule to prove that she could do it.
“Maria was one of my hardest working students,” said Marcia Stewart, a YAS teacher. “She 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.”
“Maria is the embodiment of perseverance and determination,” Stewart continued. “She is an incredible woman, and I am so honored I got to witness part of her journey.”
Her children also took notice.
Valencia said she knows she still has plenty of work ahead, but she is ready to face her challenges head-on.
“Before starting (my public speaking class), I was in a bit of a panic that I couldn’t speak in front of someone because of my English,” she explained. “But everybody, every single person encouraged me not to be afraid and to not be afraid of my accent.”
Valencia’s most significant piece of advice for students following in her footsteps: persist.
“Never give up, because right now, there’s a lot of help out there. But if you don’t ask, you will never get that help,” she said. “I never thought I could graduate from Crafton, but otherwise, I would just be sitting down doing nothing.”
Each year, Crafton and YAS partner to help students pursue higher education. Last semester, Roadrunner officials worked closely with 22 YAS adult learners by providing them with the necessary resources to make their educational goals a reality. Eight YAS learners are currently enrolled in either Crafton’s summer or fall semester credit courses, while two YAS students are participating in the site’s Adult Summer Bridge Program.
To learn more about the program or Crafton Hills College, go to craftonhills.edu.
To access a PDF of the press release, and to download Maria Cristina Valencia’s photo, click here.
