Commencement Memories: Sisters plan to teach in Mexico

(Dec. 13, 2001)--Among the list of more than 2,000 students scheduled to receive their diplomas Saturday are sisters Nelia Gamez and Carla Gamez from Ciudad Acuna, Mexico.

The pair will receive their bachelor's degrees from the College of Education and Human Development.

They graduated one year apart from Del Rio High School and both plan to teach in the San Antonio area while pursuing their master's degree.

Nelia, a 23-year-old bilingual education major, wants to teach elementary students in the Edgewood School district where she did her student teaching.

"I really like teaching students. It feels good to know that you are teaching something that will be good for them in the future. It's also very challenging as well," she said.

Carla, 21, is earning a kinesiology degree and would like to pursue a master's in counseling. She did student teaching for elementary and middle school students in the Edgewood School District as well.

"I had a chance to see what was going on, and I saw that some kids in low income school districts really need help, support and counseling," said Carla.

Both sisters credit their family for the support they have given them to complete their education. Both parents encouraged them to pursue higher education at UTSA in order to have more opportunities to live better lives.

Another important role model for them is their grandfather, who taught them his strong work ethic. The 89-year-old gas station owner has one of the oldest stations of its kind in Mexico and still walks to work every day to put in his eight hours.

Both Gamez sisters plan to earn their master's degrees while working in San Antonio, and then return home to Mexico to help educate the children in their community.

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