Pharr resident Vanessa Mendoza’s parents did not have the opportunity to go to college and get their “dream careers.” However, she said, they stressed the importance of college to their children.
“My parents were humble and gave us what we needed,” Mendoza said. “They motivated me and my siblings to do well in school so we would be able to go to college to have a good job and a better future.”
Mendoza worked at DHR Health as a registration representative for six years. The hospital setting matched her vision of a dream career, but she knew she was destined for a different role. Determined to become a registered nurse, Mendoza enrolled in the Associate Degree Nursing Program at South Texas College. She soon encountered stumbling blocks.
“I was struggling to pay for my college expenses since I do not qualify for financial aid,” Mendoza said. Then, a co-worker at DHR Health told her about Valley Initiative for Development and Advancement. The nonprofit organization provides financial assistance and wraparound services to Valley residents to remove the barriers that keep them from earning a certificate or degree that will change the trajectory of their lives and their families’ lives. Mendoza applied to VIDA and was accepted in the fall of 2021.
More Than Financial Support
“VIDA is helping me stay motivated to do well in my classes,” Mendoza said. “Aside from the program supporting me financially, the weekly meetings remind me of what I should be doing as far as coping with stress, time management, learning about loans and purchasing a home so I will be prepared in the future. These are things they don’t get to teach you in school.”
A dollar value cannot be placed on the social and emotional support VIDA offers. For Mendoza, it has provided her with the tools, motivation and strength she needs to overcome the loss of her dad along with the challenges of being a single parent while going to school full time.
“VIDA is important because they are there for you,” Mendoza said. “They are there to hear from you with whatever you are going through. VIDA has felt like a family, and my counselor is amazing to help us, guide us and motivate us to keep doing well.”
With the support of VIDA and her loving mom, Mendoza expects to graduate in December. Earning her ADN qualifies her to sit for the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses. Earning a passing score on this exam will also earn Mendoza her dream title of RN.
“Once I graduate, I will be able to start my career goal as a registered nurse and build my own future with my family,” Mendoza said.