58-year-old former farmer graduates from university with honors

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A former farmer from California, USA, is one step closer to realizing his dream of becoming a teacher.

Adolfo Gonzalez, 58, is an immigrant and crossed the US-Mexico border in 1986 in search of a better life, as per the Salinas Californian on May 25. Gonzalez toiled the celery fields of Salinas Valley for years to support his family back in Mexico.

“I took the decision to come to the United States like everybody does because it’s the only way we can support our family,” said Gonzalez in the report.

Despite working as a farmer, Gonzalez was determined to pursue an education and endeavored to learn the English language at the Salinas Adult School. He eventually enrolled in Hartnell College, but dropped out after a counselor told him he was too old and his English was not good enough, as per the report.

His wife, Maria, and daughter Marie, however, encouraged him to try again and in 2015, Gonzalez enrolled once more in Hartnell. It was college counselor Aron Szamos who helped Gonzalez transfer to university after earning his associate’s degree in 2017.

Gonzalez graduated from the California State University, Monterey Bay with a bachelor’s degree in Spanish last May 18, and with honors and accolades to his name. 

“The most important thing for me is not what I’m doing now. The most important thing to me is to inspire people to do the same thing I did…,” he said. “I think it’s time our community get educated.”

Gonzalez is now preparing for the California Basic Education Skills Test, which he must pass so he can teach. He also plans to go back to school to get a master’s degree in education.  Cody Cepeda /ra

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