WNMU student returns to college after a decade, prepares to graduate as bilingual educator
Western New Mexico University student Joselyne Salas is set to graduate after returning to school as an adult learner, becoming the first in her family to earn a degree.
After stepping away to raise her children, Joselyne Salas will become the first in her family to earn a college degree.
Organ Mountain News report
SILVER CITY - After stepping away from school for more than a decade to raise her children, Joselyne Salas is preparing to graduate from Western New Mexico University and begin a career as a bilingual educator. When she walks at spring commencement, she will also become the first person in her family to earn a college degree.
Salas said the path to graduation was anything but direct. After high school, she focused on building her family and raising her daughters, putting her education on hold while taking on the responsibilities of motherhood. Even then, she said, the goal of earning a degree never fully went away, remaining in the background as something she hoped to return to when the time was right.
When she did return to school as an adult learner, Salas said she approached her education with a different level of clarity and purpose. She said she was motivated not only by her own goals, but by the example she wanted to set for her children — a message that persistence matters and that it is never too late to continue pursuing an education.
“Going back to school was a decision I made not only for myself, but to show my daughters that it is never too late to pursue your dreams,” Salas said.
Balancing coursework with family life required support, which Salas said came from her husband and extended family — what she describes as “the village.” She said that support system helped her manage late nights, shifting schedules and the day-to-day demands that come with raising a family while working toward a degree.
As a Mexican American student and first-generation college graduate, Salas said her accomplishment carries meaning beyond her own experience. She said becoming the first in her family to graduate represents a shift in what is possible for future generations, and something she hopes will encourage others in similar situations to pursue their own goals.
“My journey has been shaped by faith, support from my husband and village, and a strong desire to become a bilingual educator who gives back,” she said.
Salas said she plans to bring that perspective into the classroom, where she hopes to support students in bilingual education settings. Drawing from her own experiences, she said she wants to help students see language as a strength and provide guidance for those navigating challenges similar to her own.
Her graduation marks the end of a 10-year journey and the beginning of a career focused on education and service.
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