Carmen Zavala This is Me

Education

 Web References

1. 1. WWW.ESCONDIDOADULTSCHOOL-ROP.ORG

   WWW.ESCONDIDOADULTSCHOOL-ROP.O - [Cached]

   Published on: 10/17/2006   Last Visited: 4/7/2007

   Oct 17, 2006 - Former adult education student, Carmen Zavala, was recognized by the Outreach Techical Assistance Network (OTAN) in its Student Success Stories project. The project recognizes students who were able to go on to further their education or improve their employment options as a result of their experience in an adult education program.
   
   When Carmen was 12 years old in Guanajuato, Mexico, her dream was to become an educated person. The dream was shattered when her father told her she would not be continuing her education because "women do not need to be educated. They get married and have children."
   
   In 1989 Carmen married her childhood sweetheart and moved to the United States. They first settled in Fresno, but promised work did not materialize. With two children, they left Fresno in 1994 and moved to San Diego. They set up their home in a tiny trailer while they both looked for work.
   
   Her husband, Martin, found work fairly quickly, but for Carmen the search was not as productive. Rather than sit around, she began to volunteer with different agencies in the county. First, she worked with Head Start. Then, in 1996, after enrolling in Escondido Adult School, she began to volunteer in the school's childcare center and citizenship class. She helped students improve their English skills while preparing to become citizens.
   
   Carmen was a successful student in Escondido Adult School's ESL and GED programs. Her success inspired confidence, and with encouragement from her teachers and a special scholarship, Carmen enrolled in Palomar College in San Marcos. A husband and two children to care for meant studying into the early morning hours, but she was taking another step toward realizing her dream. As busy as she was, Carment still found time to return to the adult school and tutor students wbo were working to pass the GED, and with support from her family " who were willing to eat lots of scrambled eggs," she was able to complete her two year program at Palomar.
   
   Carmen was then accepted to the University of San Diego (UCSD). The family moved into student housing on the UCSD campus in September 2001, and in June, 2005, Carmen graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Management Science.
   
   Carmen is currently a personal banker for Bank of America. Together with her husband, she bought a condominium in north San Diego, and continues to make plans for more education. Next, she plans to return to school and pursue a Master's degree with the goal of becoming an investment counselor.

2. 2. WWW.ESCONDIDOADULTSCHOOL-ROP.ORG

   WWW.ESCONDIDOADULTSCHOOL-ROP.O - [Cached]

   Last Visited: 4/7/2007

   Former adult education student, Carmen Zavala, was recognized by the Outreach Techical Assistance Network ...