[Music]
[Guitar strumming]
>> My dad did not want us to go to school because we were girls,
and he felt that it was a waste of money because girls only get married and have kids.
One day, dad said, "OK, I'm not gonna send you to school anymore" to my sister.
He said, "I'm not gonna spend my money anymore", because he got laid off from his work.
He kicked us out of the house, so my sister said, "The only thing we have is to go live with my brother".
I ... I feel really sad when my sister had to drop out of college, because we didn't have any money.
The only option we had was to come to live in the U.S.
When we came here, my sister, who was going to medical school, was now a janitor cleaning bathrooms.
I didn't even finish high school because I just followed her;
and I used to tell her, "We are going to go to school, I promise you, we will", but it was scary because I didn't think I could do it.
People kept telling me that I was not smart, that I was dumb, so I thought that I was dumb.
>> You came into my office at Johnson County Adult Education with Jessica.
That first time, you shared with me that she had been in college in El Salvador and was studying to be a doctor,
and that it was really disappointing to have to let that dream go.
I remember having a conversation with Janet, your instructor, before you came into my office,
and she said, "These girls are super-smart. They are so smart, their test scores are off the charts.
They're not going to be here long, so you need to start talking to them about JCCC now".
>> It was shocking when you started "bullying" us about school. [laughs]
>> That piece of advice I have given to so many people, Chris. I think it's the best piece of advice that I have heard in my entire life.
You said, "Look: in four years, you could be graduating, or you could be saying,
'I wish I had started four years ago, because if I had, I would be graduating now'.
Time is gonna pass no matter what you do, but how you spend that time is what matters".
It seems so simple, but it was so important and I carry it with me;
and every time I doubt myself - and that happens a lot - I think back to that.
>> It's really humbling, the fact that you come back to the impact I had. I really don't see it as that.
I see there are a whole lot of people who helped you, and you were the one that had the drive and determination to really go for it.
>> But it was because you pushed us to do that, it was because you were the first one, growing up in a household that was abusive.
Our dad told us our whole life that we were dumb, that we did not deserve to go to school, that we were never gonna amount to anything.
You were the first person to say, "Do not say that, say that you're smart, you can go to school".
That was so important to us, and sometimes, all you need is somebody to tell you that you can. That was important for me.
You helped me and my sister. I am never going to forget that, never. So, thank you so much. >> You are welcome.
[Guitar strumming, ends naturally]