By Judith Lopez
Dominique Solis learned to balance how to be a full time student, parent and worker for three years, this year she finally graduates. This is the case for many students at ELAC. Solis explains that, “it has not been easy trying to balance so many things at once and at times I’ve felt like giving up.”
Solis has been attending East Los Angeles College for a little over three years. It has not been easy for her but everyday she is determined. She states“I would have been out of here a lot sooner but I have other responsibilities that are my main priority, my children.”
Solis has a daughter in high school who is 15 years old and has a four-year old son who attends preschool. She also has a full time job. For the most part Solis tries to work the night shift. This allows her to spend more time with her children during the day.
Her day is very fast paced. First, she drops off her daughter by 7:50 a.m. then she drops her son off at day care in Pasadena by 9 a.m.
Solis then comes straight to ELAC for her first class which begins at 10:35 a.m.
Many times she’s had to take the bus because she does not have a reliable source of tranportation, in which Solis said “makes things just that much harder, especially on rainy days.” She comes to ELAC Monday through Thursday and is majoring in criminal justice.
While at work Solis manages to find time in between her lunch breaks to complete her homework and study for any upcoming exams. She tries to study as much as possible.
Though it has been a hard process Solis is very proud of herself. She admits that her greatest motivation for not giving up is her children.She tries to set a good example every day.
Being a good role model for them is what she strives for so that one day they both will follow in her footsteps and be college graduates.
Like many students at ELAC trying to get here might be a struggle and they must make sacrifices just to be here. “In the end it will be well worth it,” Solis said.
Solis is certainly not the only one who’s had to face many obstacles but as long as there is drive and motivation one can accomplish and achieve thier goals.
Every student has a story like for example Dominique, who’s goal was to graduate from ELAC and this year, which she anticipates. This is just one of her many goals she slowly but surely will conquer.
