Commencement Close-up: Graduate thinks of UTSA as catalyst for success
(Dec. 13, 2002)--Ludivina Moreno Rodriguez graduates from UTSA Saturday, Dec. 14 with a B.B.A. in information systems, but the journey to the Convocation Center ceremony wasn't easy.
Rodriguez, who was born and raised in a small coal-mining town in Mexico, came to the U.S. in October 1994 knowing little English, but remembering encouraging words from her late father and the faith he had in her abilities. Many times throughout her childhood, she heard her father's advice: "Your future lies in the United States. You will be someone."
Her father's death led her to seek a new beginning in a new place, and she came to Texas. Having just earned a degree from a technical institute, she was determined to make a life for herself. The youngest of 14 brothers and sisters, she is the only one of her siblings to venture out of Palau, their pueblo located in Northern Mexico.
While dancing at a club she met her future husband, Adam Rodriguez, twice a UTSA graduate (B.B.A., '94 and M.B.A., '01) and a member of the UTSA Alumni Association.
"She knew very little English," says Adam, "but she knew how to dance country. I asked her to dance and she nodded her head yes. I was fascinated with her smile and beauty."
Even though they didn't know each other's language, they managed to get to know one another. Adam says he and his family soon realized how determined Ludivina was to learn and succeed.
"The only thing missing was a goal for her to focus on," says Adam. When Ludivina attended his 1994 graduation, she decided that UTSA would be her catalyst.
The couple moved to Corpus Christi and were married, and in 1998 returned to San Antonio. She participated in an English-as-a-Second-Language night school program through the Northside School District and studied to complete her GED in English, while working part-time jobs. With a GED, self-motivation and dedication in her back pocket, she applied for admission to UTSA.
"Her college career began in the spring of 1999," says Adam. "She aced it all and now she sits here ready to graduate. And, earlier this year she became a U.S. citizen."
In a letter to UTSA President Ricardo Romo, Adam writes: "In
eight years, my wife has come from a small Mexican pueblo to become a young
professional armed with a UTSA degree… My thanks go to you and UTSA for
providing my wife with not a just a dream, but a possibility. We will forever
be committed to UTSA. UTSA challenged my wife… to become a well-rounded
person ready to give back to her family, her community, her university and,
most importantly, to herself. UTSA is truly a place of possibilities."
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© The University of Texas at San Antonio, 2002