ENMU Senior Refuses to Become a Statistic

By Patricia Duran

Patricia Duran is a senior at ENMU studying communications with an emphasis in public relations and a minor in graphic design. She plans to attend graduate school this fall.

As a young woman, I happened upon an alarming statistic: Over 60 million girls across the world don’t get to attend school.

Patricia Duran

These young women do not have the chance or the opportunity that I have. They might never hold a pencil. They might never understand their written language. They might never learn about the universe around them.

I have all of the opportunity in the world to pursue those things. Since the first grade, I made my grades a priority and understood that education was of high value in a global society. My parents taught me that independence was my ticket to success.

In high school I took advantage of my education. I studied everything I could get my hands on and applied for every scholarship I could. I graduated early with a 3.6 GPA and with multiple scholarships paying for my entire undergraduate career.

I worked my ‘toosh’ off because I knew that sitting on it wouldn’t pay my way through college or life. I was wellaware that I could easily expand my mind and knowledge beyond any limits set against me.

This is my last year in college, and because of my determination and hard work, I will be graduating from ENMU debt-free. I will be graduating with the knowledge to change the world while being the change I wish to see.