For Weslaco resident Martha Zuniga, the distance to her destination holds little significance; what matters is reaching it.
“The journey can be 1,000 miles away,” Zuniga said, “but you begin with one step.”
Zuniga’ journey began in 2008 when she became a certified nursing assistant while in high school. After graduation, she took the next step by becoming a certified medical assistant.
“My parents always said that education is the main key of happiness because if you pursue what you’re passionate for, work won’t feel like something you are being forced to do for a living,” Zuniga said.
For years, she envisioned working as a mortician as her destination. But then she got married and had three children. To help support her family, she worked in nursing homes and in a hospital. She realized she loved taking care of patients.
“From just giving a simple bed bath to helping patients get comfortable in bed when they’re hurting or haven’t been able to sleep — the little things are what count,” Zuniga said.
Forging A Path
Now that her youngest is 9, Zuniga decided she needed to start the next mile of her journey. This first-generation college student enrolled in the Vocational Nursing Program at the Mid-Valley campus of South Texas College.
While Zuniga attends school, her husband, a self-employed barber, handles the majority of their children’s day-to-day needs and runs errands for the family. She knows the sacrifices her children see their parents making will have a mighty impact on their lives. She also hopes it will teach them to strive for their dreams, regardless of their age or any obstacles they face.
Zuniga also applied to Valley Initiative for Development and Advancement, a nonprofit organization that has provided financial assistance, as well as individual and group counseling sessions, to Rio Grande Valley residents for close to 30 years. Sessions focus on topics such as time management, budgeting and handling stress, as well as on skill development to build a resume and nail a job interview. In addition, VIDA offers participants volunteer opportunities as a way to pay the community back for the generous grants and donations that fund everything the organization does.
“VIDA has helped me mentally,” Zuniga said. “I feel less stress, knowing VIDA is assisting me by paying for a portion of my tuition — and all of the extras they provide. I feel at ease; I can count on this program when I need to talk to someone for guidance.”
Zuniga recently volunteered at Alfresco Weslaco, a monthly music and art event held from August to February.
“It felt nice to give back to the community,” she said.
The Road Ahead
Zuniga is scheduled to graduate in December. Her destination has changed and she has already identified the next four mile markers along the way. First, she will earn an associate degree in nursing. Then she will pass the state exam to become a registered nurse, complete a bachelor’s degree and earn a master’s degree in forensic nursing. These steps will lead Zuniga to becoming a Child to Adult Abuse Response Team nurse, specializing in working with abused and traumatized children.
With each step she takes, Zuniga thinks of her father, who she lost over the summer.
“My dad always believed I could make it,” she said. “He would tell me, ‘One thing no one can ever take away from you is your knowledge.’”