There are some who think the American Dream is just that 鈥� a dream. They may become believers after meeting Irma Garc铆a.
On Saturday, the 72鈥憏ear鈥憃ld grandmother will walk across the stage at George Mason University to receive her bachelor鈥檚 degree in public administration.
This has been Garc铆a鈥檚 goal since before she moved to the United States in 1978.
鈥淚 was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, in a barrio of San Juan,鈥� Garc铆a said. 鈥淚 decided to come here because I wanted to continue my studies.鈥�
She also wanted something else 鈥� a better life for her three daughters, all three and under. When she first arrived, she brought her oldest daughter with her. Three months later, she flew back to Puerto Rico to bring home her one鈥憏ear鈥憃ld twins.
Education wasn鈥檛 just encouraged in her family; it was expected. Her grandmother graduated from high school alongside her own sons. Her mother earned a bachelor鈥檚 degree after retiring from government service. So Garc铆a followed the pattern, first studying in Puerto Rico, then transferring credits to Northern Virginia Community College, where she earned a two鈥憏ear degree.
She did all of this as a single mom working two jobs 鈥� but insists she never felt tired. 鈥淚 loved my kids so much,鈥� she said. 鈥淓ven on the weekends when I didn鈥檛 work, we were always doing stuff.鈥�
鈥淚 worked at Northern Virginia Community College in the purchasing office in Annandale,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 also had to work at Wendy鈥檚, doing the salad bars at night.鈥�
And that education paid off. 鈥淲ith only a two鈥憏ear degree,鈥� Garc铆a said, 鈥淚 was even able to be an executive director at a nonprofit. I had beautiful jobs helping people.鈥�
Her daughter, Ileana Mu帽ez, told 海角社区app, 鈥淭his has been one of her dreams.鈥�
Mu帽ez says the family still has photos of Irma winning awards in elementary school.
鈥淪o, education has been very important to her, and she passed that along to all of us.鈥�
All three of Garc铆a鈥檚 daughters attended college and built careers in law, government, and tech. Her five college鈥慹ducated grandchildren helped her navigate the technology needed to finish her degree.
Five years ago, Garc铆a enrolled at Mason鈥檚 Schar School of Policy and Government. Her advisors praised her as 鈥渁n inspiration鈥� and an 鈥淎鈥憄lus advisee.鈥� In class, she joked she felt like 鈥渁 living museum,鈥� surrounded by students who were the age of her grandchildren.
After she picks up her degree, Garc铆a hopes to return to nonprofit work on a part鈥憈ime basis.
And when asked what she鈥檇 tell another single mom with a dream like hers, she didn鈥檛 sugarcoat it 鈥� but she didn鈥檛 discourage anyone either.
鈥淚t鈥檚 not easy,鈥� she said. 鈥淏ut it can be done. I鈥檓 living proof of that.鈥�
Her message was honest, hopeful, and exactly what you鈥檇 expect from a grandmother who knows that true success is earned.
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