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MACC

MACC Student Proves It’s Never Too Late to go Back to School

Despite what some will say, it is never too late to earn a degree. Although she studied for a technical degree in Mexico, Laura Guerra, a single mother of two from Piedras Negras, Coahuila, had always wanted to study more. While her children were in high school, she decided that when they finished and began University, she too would begin her journey in higher education.

“In addition to overcoming the insecurity and fear of returning to school at age 43, I knew the way to learn was going to be different; the passing years would make concentration more difficult. But I realized that studying not by obligation but by devotion and in full freedom would be more enriching. It would be fun to be a student again, though I was not yet sure what I wanted to study.”

Unsure of what she wanted to study, the answer was suddenly inspired by another MACC student. “One day my friend Lorella told me that she was going to begin school at MACC,” she said. “Immediately I felt the call to earn my Bachelor’s in Pastoral Ministry.”

Because the education she completed in Mexico was not equivalent to a high school degree in the U.S., the first obstacle Laura had to overcome was to obtain her GED. She began to prepare and registered to complete the examen ceneval (National Center of Evaluation for Higher Education). Passing this general exam enabled her to continue higher studies in the U.S.  In 2013, her journey at MACC began. In May 2018, Laura completed her Bachelor’s degree in Pastoral Ministry with a concentration in Catholic Leadership.

“The maturity that comes with age made me see things differently.  Thanks to this experience of continuing to learn and enrich my life with new knowledge to share, I am filled with gratitude to MACC for lighting a flame that I now want to continue keeping alive,” she said.  I am not the same person as when I started at MACC. Maybe in the future I will be encouraged to study for a master’s degree.”

What is next for Laura? Her hope is to find work in the Archdiocese of San Antonio, but she feels an even greater call to go as a missionary in another country, particularly Peru.

“I would like to fulfill this new project in my life with the assurance that God and Mary go with me,” she said. “I have been in contact with a religious congregation in Chosica, Peru so that I can have an opportunity to offer works of mercy there with them for a couple of months.”

ESTUDIANTE DE MACC DEMUESTRA QUE NUNCA ES DEMASIADO TARDE PARA VOLVER A LA ESCUELA

A pesar de lo que digan algunos, nunca es demasiado tarde para obtener un título. Aunque estudió una carrera técnica en México, Laura Guerra, madre soltera de dos hijos de Piedras Negras, Coahuila, siempre quiso haber estudiado más. Mientras sus hijos estaban en la escuela secundaria, ella decidió que tan pronto ellos terminaran y se fueran a la universidad, ella también comenzaría su camino hacia la educación superior.

“Además de vencer la inseguridad y el miedo de volver a la escuela con mis 43 años, sabía que la forma de aprender sería diferente y con el paso de los años se iba a dificultar más la concentración,” dijo ella. “Pero me di cuenta de que estudiando no por obligación, sino por devoción y en plena libertad, sería más enriquecedor y divertido volver a ser estudiante.”

Insegura de lo que quería estudiar, la respuesta de repente fue inspirada por otra estudiante de MACC. “Sucedió que un día platicando con mi amiga Lorella, me comentó que ella iba a entrar a estudiar a MACC,” dijo ella. “De inmediato sentí el llamado a estudiar la Licenciatura en Ministerio Pastoral.”

Debido a que la educación que completó en México no era equivalente a un título de escuela secundaria en los EE. UU., el primer obstáculo que tuvo que vencer fue obtener su GED. Comenzó a prepararse para el examen y se inscribió para completar el examen CENEVAL (Centro Nacional de Evaluación para la Educación Superior) para poder continuar sus estudios de educación superior en los Estados Unidos. Después de pasar el examen en el año 2013, comenzó su camino hacia MACC. En mayo, completó su Licenciatura en Ministerio Pastoral con una concentración en Liderazgo Católico.

“La madurez que dan los años me hizo ver las cosas de manera diferente y gracias a esta experiencia de seguir aprendiendo y enriqueciendo mi vida con nuevos conocimientos para compartir, estoy llena de gratitud hacia MACC por encender una llama que ahora quiero seguir manteniendo viva,” dijo ella. “A tal grado, no soy la misma persona que cuando empecé en MACC. Quizá en el futuro me anime a estudiar una maestría.”

¿Qué sigue para Laura? Su esperanza es encontrar trabajo en la Arquidiócesis de San Antonio, pero ella siente un llamado más grande para irse como misionera a otro país, particularmente Perú.

“Me gustaría cumplir este nuevo proyecto en mi vida con la seguridad de que Dios y María van conmigo,” dijo ella. “He estado en contacto con una congregación religiosa en Chosica, Perú, para ir a darme en obras de misericordia allá con ellas por un par de meses.”

Posted in SOMOS MACC NEWSLETTER, Summer 2018 NewsletterTagged Archdiocese of San Antonio, Hispanic Ministry, MACC alumni, pastoral ministry, student testimony

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