Back to school to Change the Future: A Latino Story of Effort and Hope

Wichita, Kansas | July 1, 2026

By Claudia Amaro | Planeta Venus

Gabriela Rodríguez receives her GED diploma from NexStep Alliance. Picture by Claudia Amaro

Sometimes it seems that the statistics are not in favor of our Latino community, but the history of our people shows great strength and resilience. Nationwide, nearly 83% of Latino students graduate from high school, but in Kansas, that percentage drops to 75.2%. This means that nearly one in four young Latinos do not finish school. There are many reasons for this: the need to work, language barriers, and parenting at a young age. However, last April in Wichita, Gabriela Rodriguez, a 36-year-old Latina mother of five, overcame these obstacles and earned her diploma from the NexStep Alliance adult school. Her story shows us that it is never too late to recover our dreams and move forward.

Rodriguez's story represents many Latino women and men who have dropped out of school to care for their families. Rodriguez became a mother for the first time at age 15 and had to drop out of school to care for her children. By the age of 18, he already had three children and dedicated his entire youth to working hard to give them what they needed.

Rodriguez's story puts a human face on a silent crisis that affects our families and the entire community. Not having a diploma is a burden that closes doors to better jobs, hinders access to quality health care, and reduces our participation in society. Talking about these challenges is not to lament, but to see that education is a powerful tool. Rodriguez's experience shows us that going back to school not only helps financially, but also gives us a voice and leadership to defend the rights of immigrants and the entire Latino community.

Rodríguez worked for more than 15 years in a company where she felt good, until she was unexpectedly fired. Instead of giving up, he decided to use that difficult time as motivation. As she herself says: "In that misfortune there was also an opportunity, because I had never had the opportunity to say: 'Well, I'm going to go back to school'." When looking for a job, she realized a harsh reality: "Without your diploma, without your education, unfortunately, many jobs are not going to give you the opportunity."

After deciding to change her family's future, Rodriguez found NexStep Alliance online. This organization offers adult education programs, including GED classes, tuition-free college courses, English-as-a-second-language (ESL) classes, and other services at low or no cost. Thus began an eight-month marathon for Rodríguez. Her daily routine was a testament to love and sacrifice; she would attend classes from 9 to 12, return home to prepare meals, and then work from 2:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. When she got home, she only had time to bathe, sleep for a few hours, and start again.

Rodriguez poses with her mother after the graduation ceremony. Picture provided by Rodriguez.

Rodríguez did not make this great effort alone; she had the support of her family. Her mother, despite her fragile health, took care of her youngest son and paid for the first tests when Rodríguez had no money. Her husband encouraged her and asked her not to give up when she failed an exam. Her teenage son also helped her, patiently explaining math problems. Although it was difficult for Rodríguez to see the roles reversed and to realize she should be the teacher, that experience strengthened her family.

Rodríguez was surrounded by her family after graduation. Picture provided by Rodríguez.

Rodríguez's effort paid off in April, when she passed her last exam. Now she does not intend to stop; Next year she will enter college to study political science and dreams of being an immigration and civil rights attorney to defend our people. Her message to the community is clear: "It's never too late... particularly for us Hispanic women, because... we need more representation in positions where there is none." Rodriguez reminds us that Latinas have a "life experience that not even in schools can one learn," and that this strength becomes even greater with education.

For those who want to follow this example in our community, local organizations in Wichita, like the NexStep Alliance, are ready to help. They offer GED programs and tuition-free English (ESL) classes; they only ask for an annual $50 materials fee. They also offer participants free college programs. The resources exist. Rodriguez sends a message to the women of our community: "... we have to educate ourselves, women, because we are the future, we are educating these children, and we must educate ourselves because we are the future and we are going to make a big change".

Picture provided by Rodríguez.