Standing on Their Shoulders: A Legacy of Education

Submitted by: Reyna E. Rosales, PAC alumni or former student
Theme : Vision

In 2019, I became a first-generation college graduate. In 2020, my daughter Reyna graduated. In 2024, my daughter Ashley followed in our footsteps. Now, both of my daughters are working toward their bachelor’s degrees. As for me, after earning my associate’s and bachelor’s degrees, I am now pursuing my master’s, and soon, I will apply for my Ph.D. at UTSA.

But this story began long before us. In the 1950s, my grandmother, at just 12 years old, learned to read and write— not in a school, but from her eldest brother. He was allowed to attend school because he was a boy. She was not. My mother left school in the sixth grade after becoming pregnant with me. I, too, became a teen mom—at 18, and again at 21. But we chose a different path. We chose education. And we didn’t walk it alone.

The staff at Palo Alto College helped us navigate the challenges, overcome barriers, and believe that we were capable of more. They didn’t just open doors—they held them open, and stood beside us as we walked through.

We are breaking the cycle. We are building a new legacy. My granddaughter Valentina will stand on the shoulders of her mother, aunt, grandmother, great-grandmother, and great-great-grandmother. She will carry forward a vision rooted in strength, sacrifice, and self-belief. We are all Palo Alto College graduates, and our journey does not end here. There is power in education, and we are just getting started.

Thank you, Palo Alto College, for your support.

Kind Regards,

Reyna E. Rosales