It’s never too late for your education

Virginia Calvillo proves it’s never too late to make a dream happen, and that no matter what hardship you face, it doesn’t have to hold you back.

“I was born in Florida but moved to Mexico with my parents and we lived there until I was six,” said Calvillo. “Then, we came back to the United States and I enrolled in school. But my parents took me out of school at 9 years old, and I started working with them doing gardening and cleaning yards.”

Soon after, her parents abandoned her, and surviving had to take priority over being in school, so she never reenrolled.

“At the age of 14, I moved to Austin and had my first child by the time I was 15.”

She did the best she could, working minimum wage jobs. Today, she is a mom to three boys. Her oldest asked her one day if she wanted to do more or try something else. It made her start thinking.

Then, as she did volunteer work at her youngest sons’ elementary school, she was encouraged by a staff member who saw how great she was with the children.

“She said she saw that I had a real passion. Mrs. Green made an appointment for me so I could go and start school to get my GED. She’s the one I really have to thank.”

Virginia’s appointment was with North East ISD’s Adult Education program which helps adults re-start and finish their education. And at the age of 30, Virginia was back in school. That was just this past June.

In four months, she got her High School Equivalency (HSE) and obtained a paraprofessional certification through Region 20.

By December, she was working as an instructional assistant at Regency Place Elementary School.

“In the morning, I help with lunch duty,” said Calvillo. “I also help the nurse, Ms. Jackie, whenever she needs me, or I help around the office whenever they need me.

Looking back at her experience with NEISD, she is so grateful to the people who helped and encouraged her.

“When I first started, it was hard. I kept saying I want to give up, that I didn’t think I could do it. But my teacher kept saying ‘Why not?’ and that ‘Why not?’ is always in my head whenever I want to back out or doubt myself. I’m grateful because this experience opened a lot of doors to me that I thought were all closed.”

And recently, she walked through another set of doors. Virginia enrolled in college and just finished her first semester at Alamo Colleges. She plans to become an early childhood teacher.

“For now, I’m doing my basics at SAC, but I hope to go to UTSA to continue. Fingers crossed.”

A life that started out rough is now full of promise, and just like people inspired and motivated her, she wants to do the same.

“I have people ask me for advice now. And I tell them, it’s never too late to accomplish your goals if you really want them. It’s never too late.”

For more information on the NEISD Adult Education program, visit neisd.net/adult-ed.