ALAMOSA– Almost two years ago, when her son was born, Jade Ortega was only 15. Due to pre-term labor, she was flown to Colorado Springs where she would spend the last few months of her pregnancy on bedrest in the hospital. So, she studied online.
Academically, she always prided herself on “staying on top of things” as she kept her schoolwork current, but she was falling behind. She did not finish her junior year in high school, nor attend her senior year, but had always had her heart set on finishing school and going to college.
Jade started full-time work in Alamosa, soon after Azariah was born. She could take her newborn with her when needed, but full-time work and caring for her first baby was a daunting challenge. She worried about her future.
When she learned about the GED program in Alamosa at Trinidad State, it felt like a good fit, but she had to wait for her 17th birthday. She was then able to live with her mom in La Jara, drive to Alamosa for her 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. job, then go to Trinidad State to study until 8:30 p.m. and then drive back home. She continued this strenuous schedule for six and a half weeks blazing through her classes and earning her GED. She graduated a year earlier than she would have in high school.
“My son was my biggest motivation through it all. I needed to do this for him and for me so we could have a better life,” said Ortega.
Although Jade was not allowed to register for the GED classes until she was 17, an agreement called STEP, Students Travel Educational Pathways, now exists between both Alamosa and Sierra Grande high schools and Trinidad State. Through this program students can start classes at Trinidad State as early as age 16.
“Last year seven students from Alamosa High came to Trinidad State that would otherwise have dropped out of school,” said Tammie Mack, director of the Adult Education Program at Trinidad State. Of the 24 May graduates from the Alamosa, Trinidad, and Walsenburg sites, 12 were from the Valley Campus in Alamosa.
“The program is there to break down those barriers leading to self-sufficiency,” said Mack. “We offer classes morning, afternoon, and evening to allow our students to attend when they can. It’s free and is 100 percent federally funded through grants.”
Each year one student is chosen to give the graduation speech. This year Jade gave that speech, while holding her son Azariah in her arms.
“You have to want to do something for yourself for it to happen,” she said.
She credits both her mom and her instructors for their constant support.
“Miss Vicki (White) was a big part of my having the motivation to keep going in class. She’s the most kind-hearted person and even on my hardest days she just put a smile on my face without even trying,” said Jade. “Without her I don’t think I’d be speaking with you right now.”
Jade plans to begin college at Trinidad State in the fall. She wants to become an RN (Registered Nurse) and eventually a surgeon, her childhood dream.
“Right now, I’m pretty focused on me and my son, but in the future, I would love to have a family and as many as eight kids,” Ortega said.
“I’m the arching umbrella to keep things running smoothly (in the GED program),” said Mack, “but Vicki and Gary (Petty) are in the trenches really changing lives. I don’t know what I would do without Gary and Vicki’s got that social worker heart helping with individual needs as well as academic needs. Those two teachers are amazing. And our (Valley Campus) Administrative Assistant, Tiffany Atencio, works behind the scenes taking care of technology requests, making sure needed documents are up to date, etc.”
In her modesty, Mack never mentioned the fact that, under her leadership, the TSC Adult Ed Program exceeded all requirements of the Colorado Adult Ed Program statewide and currently ranks number one in the state.
Another completer was Jessica Fraser. Altogether, it took her 15 years to finally earn her GED at the age of 33. This mother of three was bursting with pride, right along with her family as her four-year old yelled, “That’s my mommy! That’s my mommy!”
Her 14-year-old cried uncontrollably while her 80-year-old grandmother from Michigan teared up.
“It warmed my heart that my children finally got to see me finish something,” said Fraser. “At the same time, it crushed me because had I done what I needed to do 15 years earlier, we would have had a much better life.”
She completed her degree work in five weeks, graduating on May 18 and started her first college class, Human Anatomy and Physiology (a prerequisite for nursing) on May 30. She will follow in both of her grandmothers’ footsteps as she trains to be a nurse.
Her mom has been a fierce supporter.
“I am so grateful for my mom. If it weren’t for that woman, I would not have all three of my children. She’s strong and she’s powerful and I’d give anything to be half of what she is,” Fraser said.
“Moving to the Valley and coming to Trinidad State were the best decisions I have made,” said Fraser. “I’m tired of these fly-by-night jobs. I’m tired of not accomplishing this. I finally have this under my belt. Now, I want a career. My kids are happy and healthy, I have a house, I’m in college — everything I ever dreamed of is unfolding.”
For more information on the program, contact Mack at 719-846-5640. The summer session begins on July 5. The deadline to apply is June 30.
