Gadsden State student overcomes the odds, earns diploma and scholarship

GADSDEN, AL – With her husband and children in the audience, Candida
Pedro Aguirre proudly walked across the stage on May 1 to receive more
than just her high school diploma — she received a second chance at a
dream once deferred.

Aguirre was honored at the Gadsden State Community College Adult
Education Services graduation ceremony held in the Beck Gymnasium on the
Wallace Drive Campus. Alongside 19 fellow students who earned their high
school diplomas through the Non-traditional High School Diploma Option,
Aguirre received a scholarship. She said this was a moment she never
thought possible.

“I was just amazed,” Aguirre said, reflecting on hearing her name called
as the scholarship winner. “I went all week telling my husband it was
going to be impossible for me to get the scholarship. I was so thankful
when my name was called.”

Aguirre’s journey began in San Rafael, Guatemala. In 2003, when she was
just 7 years old, she and her brother immigrated to Alabama with their
parents in search of a better life.

“There weren’t job opportunities for my parents in Guatemala,” she said.
“They wanted more for us. When we moved to Alabama, life was still hard,
but it improved. My dad got a job in chicken processing, and now he
works in a tool manufacturing plant in Rainbow City.”

Aguirre enrolled at Gadsden City High School and during her junior year
met Elias, who would become her husband. In 2012 during her senior year,
she became pregnant with their first son, Eli. With no one to care for
her newborn, Aguirre dropped out of school just three months shy of
graduation.

“I really didn’t have much of a choice,” she said. “No one could stay
home and care for my child, so I left school.”

She later had her second child, Aiden, in 2015, and her daughter, Zoe,
in 2022. When Aiden started pre-K in 2019, Aguirre decided it was time
to return to her education and work toward a GED.

“At first, I thought it would be too hard,” she said. “I needed so many
high school credits. It felt impossible.”

But she didn’t give up. Learning she was eligible for the
Non-traditional High School Diploma Option because she had earned more
than 10 credits from Gadsden City High School, Aguirre shifted her focus
for the GED to a high school diploma.

“I wanted to set an example for my children,” she said. “I wanted to
show them that it’s never too late to reach their goals. I explained to
them why I left school. They now understand that mistakes can be made;
the wrong decisions can be made, but you can always go back and
accomplish anything.”

She admitted that the road wasn’t easy. It took her six years to
complete the program. Illness and loss of motivation forced her to take
breaks. But one constant in her journey was the encouragement from Bonda
Vance, an Adult Education Services instructor.

“I didn’t think I could do it,” Aguirre said. “I was tired. I was not
motivated. Then, she started sending me messages. She told me I could do
it. She encouraged me to return to school. I loved getting those
messages. She made me believe I could do anything I set my mind to.”

Hollie Patterson, director of Adult Education Services, said she and the
employees at Gadsden State are proud of Aguirre for reaching this
important milestone.

“Earning her high school diploma takes dedication, courage and
resilience,” she said. “She exemplifies all of these qualities. We are
so honored to have supported her on this journey.”

Now a high school graduate and scholarship recipient, Aguirre is setting
her sights on a career as a translator, a role she’s played informally
since she was a child, helping her Spanish-speaking parents navigate
life in the U.S.

“I had to learn to translate for my parents,” she said. “They couldn’t
afford to pay for one, so I had to learn how to do it. Communication is
so important, and I want to use my skills to help others.”

The need for translators and interpreters is growing. According to the
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment in the field is expected to
grow 20 percent by 2033, which is much faster than the average for all
occupations. In Alabama, where nearly 5 percent of residents speak a
language other than English at home, trained interpreters play a vital
role in schools, hospitals and community services.

Aguirre hopes her story inspires others to take that first step. She
plans to continue encouraging fellow adult learners to take advantage of
the programs offered by Gadsden State’s Adult Education Services.

“Don’t ever doubt yourself,” she said. “It’s never too late to start a
career and accomplish all of your hopes and dreams.”

For more information about Adult Education Services, visit
www.GadsdenState.edu/AdultEd.