My name is Deyanira Orozco. I am studying English classes at Yakima Valley College in Grandview. Later, I would like to study a career. Right now, my priority is English classes. I studied high school in Mexico and would like to revalidate my credits and continue studying, perhaps as a social worker, because I enjoy helping people.
I like attending college because English classes are not expensive, and I feel comfortable. I decided to attend college because now I can, since previously I couldn’t. For a long time, I tried to go to college, but I couldn’t since I have a son with severe autism, and I had to take care of him; due to his high level of autism, no one wanted to take care of him for me, which is why I had to wait 20 years to return to school. If I had started studying for my degree now, I would not have been able to pay for it because I am only dedicating myself to school and caring for my daughter. I do not work, so raising all that money will be difficult; it would be a financial barrier for me. Not being able to access a career would cause me a lot of frustration if I didn’t achieve this dream of being able to graduate.
If there were the possibility of being able to work as a work-study in college, I would do it. The truth is that it would benefit me a lot. It could help me buy my things, and it would be a great benefit to have the possibility of studying and working at college. I would also have the opportunity to help people, depending on my job type.
If college were free, it would be a blessing, not just for me but for everyone. Imagine receiving help to pay all those amounts; studying and getting ahead would be good. Having a free college would be very good; I would grow in all aspects of myself, I would have a better quality of life, and I would continue to be an example for my daughter; she feels very proud of me. Being able to finish my degree and be an example for her and my friends, family, and community in general makes me proud. One day, someone told me sometimes it is good to put yourself in the other person’s shoes so that you can understand them; that is why today I ask you to support free college because it would greatly benefit me, the community, and even yourselves. Many of us do not all have the same opportunities to have a career, support the free college to get ahead, and have better quality.
Deyanira Orozco, Yakima