Patricia Ramirez

My name is Patricia Ramirez, and I am a 30 year old Latina student attending Rogue Community College. I spent my young life in Oregon, and I am a US citizen, but my family moved to Mexico when I was in high school. I am obviously fluent in Spanish and after several years in Mexico, I fell in love and married a Mexican man. We eventually moved back to Oregon together where we are raising our children. My husband is a legal resident of the USA, and works in construction. He wants to become a US citizen, but there is so much red-tape that we wonder how long this is going to take. Our three young sons, ages 4, 6 and 8, keep me very busy. I have always been a good student, and I am good at math, but I never had an opportunity to attend college. My parents did not think it was necessary for a girl to go to college, even though my father is an educated man. After we returned to the US, and after my children were born, I decided to start college. I work in a clerical position at a local health care organization, but the income is small, and I would love to someday teach. My husband and I send a portion of our income to my husband’s family in Mexico every month. Because I’m a wife, a mother, and a full-time employee, I have only been able to take a few classes each term toward my Associate of Arts, Oregon Transfer degree...but I will finally graduate this year. I plan transfer to a four year institution, and major in Math. I hope to be able to take most of my classes on-line, since childcare is always an issue for me, and it sometimes interferes with my ability to attend classes. I have often had to make up homework and assignments but I am proud that I have still been able to earn A’s and B’s. I am concerned about having to travel to a four year institution in order to take the classes I need, it would be very difficult for me to continue under those circumstances. I love computers, and eventually I hope to teach math in a college or university. I want to be a positive role model for other Latino and Latina students.

Even though it is difficult to find the time, I enjoy being a member of the Club Latino at RCC. I hope that I will find a way to continue to participate even after I have graduated, even if it is only to contribute to the "Educacion, Un Mundo des Opportunidades" event every year.