An Unstoppable Educational Journey

by Woody

STRAW_CoverWoody’s highly anticipated new book “STRAWBERRIES IN WINTERTIME: Essays on Life, Love, and Laughter” is NOW available! Order your signed copy HERE! 

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An Unstoppable Educational Journey

For a family celebration a decade past, we went to a restaurant at the Ventura Harbor and in addition to chips, salsa and albondigas soup followed by tacos, enchiladas and fajitas, our waitress served us something that wasn’t on the menu: a role model.

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Francelia Teran on her proud graduation day

We didn’t realize this at that moment, but over time as we got to know this waitress more personally it became clear that Francelia Teran is as inspiring as any superstar you will find on a bedroom poster.

“She-roe” is the term coined by Maya Angelou to describe women like Fran.

Earning a college degree is a lofty achievement under any circumstances, but Fran’s journey to the stage at CSU Channel Islands last Saturday to receive her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology was lengthier than most. Her pomp-and-circumstance walk required overcoming arduous circumstances.

For one thing, her father died when Fran was 14. The second shoe dropped a year later when her mother walked away from the family.

“I became a hard worker at a young age,” Fran recalls of her childhood in Mexico City. “When I came to America, I learned the language and my educational journey began.”

Faced with detours, she refused to be deterred.

“I am a strong, sensitive, and productive woman,” Fran says, and proudly. “I have encountered in my life many issues, but that hasn’t stopped me with my education.”

Indeed, working the long, late hours of a waitress and then coming home to read an assignment for class, or study for a test, or write a research paper into the wee morning hours before going to bed, and then rising early to go to classes requires determination, dedication, and sleep deprivation.

On top of work and school, Fran’s full plate has also included being a wife and mother. And despite the burden of college tuition, she has continued to send financial assistance to her extended family in Mexico City.

“I believe there is only one way to accomplished a dream,” Fran explains, flashing her familiar radiant smile. “By taking the action of doing it.”

She took action and earned an Associate Science degree from Ventura College in 2009 and then a second degree at VC in Psychology in 2013 before transferring to CSUCI.

In addition to the time demands of family, work and classes, Fran faced a language challenge. While she proudly considers becoming bilingual one of her greatest accomplishments, the truth is that reading textbooks and literature assignments, and writing papers and answering exam questions, in English is a barrier for ESL (English as a Second Language) students. Time, and nuance, gets lost in translation. In this light, her success in the classroom merits bonus acclaim.

But Fran would sooner serve the wrong order than serve up an excuse.

“I don’t let life issues stop me with my education,” she says. “The journey has been long. My son now is 17 and I have the great love of my husband. We encountered many struggles economically, socially, racially, and culturally. However, we are hard-working people.

“My main goal is to serve as a role model for my son and also for many Hispanic women like me. If I can do this, anyone can do it regardless of their migratory status, economic issues, and the language barrier.”

Last Saturday evening, Fran’s family, friends and co-workers – actually, “family” seems to describe them all – filled the second-floor patio of Margarita Villa to celebrate her accomplishment. The cold sea breeze blowing in was no match for the warmth of the occasion.

“Today, I am not only celebrating my graduation from Channel Islands University,” Fran told her well-wishers. “Today, I am making a difference in my community, in my life, and in my son’s life. I am an example of breaking the barriers. I want to be a good example for my son, for my nieces and nephews, and for many women who work hard.

“I believe in dreams, but I also believe in working to obtain something,” she continued. “You can absolutely not accept ‘no’ as an answer when you have a dream.”

Inspiring advice from a Fran-tastic role model.

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Woody Woodburn writes a weekly column for The Ventura County Star and can be contacted at WoodyWriter@gmail.com.

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