Destiny Apodaca has a big, bright smile and the dreams to match. The 22-year-old San Rafael woman just started her first semester at New Mexico State University, Grants, where she’s studying to earn a degree in education. When she finishes, she hopes to put her education to work as a teaching assistant, working with youngsters, or those “littles.” “I just love their imaginations,” Apodaca said with a grin. But for Apodaca, it was a hard-fought win, entering her first semester of college. She dropped out of high school in her junior year. It wasn’t a decision she took lightly. She wanted to continue, but her body wouldn’t cooperate. Scoliosis, a part of other medical issues that Apodaca faces, had curved her spine and made the daily rigors of attending high school debilitating for her.
Apodaca’s medical challenges began about the time most children make their first toddle. When she hadn’t reached that walking milestone, her family became concerned. Enter a visit to the doctor, where her family learned that she has cerebral palsy, a rare congenital disorder that impedes movement, muscle tone and posture. Scoliosis, she says, is a part of her cerebral palsy condition.
But while Apodaca’s medical condition might have forced her to pause her high school education, she wasn’t about to let it stop her completely. After her father died two years ago, Apodaca felt she needed to complete her high school equivalency, both to get her way toward her dreams and to make her father proud of her and her accomplishments, even if only in spirit.
Apodaca entered the NMSU, Grants Adult Education program in August, 2021. Ambrosia Knighton was Apodaca’s instructor and assisted her with both in-person and distance learning. It was a difficult time for many students, as the pandemic caused unexpected disruptions, including testing.
“She didn’t give up,” Knighton said, adding that she’s impressed by Apodaca’s wherewithal and determination. While the Adult Education program doesn’t award a diploma, the course of instruction prepares students to take either a series of GED or HiSEt tests to earn their high school equivalencies. Either a GED or HiSET credential serve as an equivalency for a high school education. According to Bureau of Labor Statistics, workers who have a high school diploma or equivalent earn about $200 more per week and enjoy a lower unemployment rate than workers without a diploma or equivalent. Earning a high school equivalency also opens the doors to vocational and college opportunities. For residents who have dropped out of high school, for one reason or another, Apodaca has some practical advice “Even if you don’t have that support system, enroll. (The Adult Education instructors and staff) will be all the support you need.”
Knighton adds: “You have to put in the work, stay positive and don’t get discouraged, especially when you hit roadblocks.” For her part, Apodaca, still, is no stranger to the Adult Education program at NMSU, Grants. She continues to check in, share stories about her adventures, gives updates about her classes and offers up words of encouragement.
“It doesn’t matter where you start,” Apodaca says. “It’s where you finish.”