Student Spotlight: Help Elia “drive” multigenerational impact!

At just 26 years old, Elia left her home in Michoacan, Mexico, seeking better financial opportunities in the United States for her and her two young daughters. When she arrived, she knew obtaining a driver's license would be vital to getting to and from work, but as she prepared to take the exam, tragedy struck.

Within a year of uprooting her life, Elia suffered a significant work injury that resulted in limited mobility in her legs. The prognosis was not hopeful—she would be completely paralyzed in 10 to 15 years. Out of concern for public safety, driving was out of the question.

Today, 20 years later, Elia has beat the odds, staying active walking around her neighborhood in Redwood City. In the time between, she raised three children, worked as an adult caregiver, focused on her studies, and recently began caring for her ill father—all while depending on unreliable public transit and ride-sharing to get around. Though Elia has already accomplished so much—like earning her GED from Sequoia Adult School, being well on her way to completing an AA for Transfer from Cañada College, and being on the Dean's List of Honors more than once—her children and the clients she cares for are now encouraging her to pursue her old dream of getting her driver's license.

Reluctant at first, Elia began studying for the driving test earlier this year. Last month, she passed the written test! While she still needs the driving test, Elia is excited for the future. Getting her license drives multigenerational impact: "It would make life so much easier. I would be able to drive my son to school; get to work and back much faster; attend in-person classes, especially when I transfer to a university; get to finally visit my daughter in Vallejo; and take my father to his doctor appointments," she says. Her whole family would reap the benefits.

Elia appreciates the support Upward Scholars has given her since 2018. From textbook and food assistance to scholarship support and Student Safety Net funding for rent, she knows her family would not have fared well during the pandemic were it not for her Upward Scholars family. Now, Elia needs a different kind of support—a driving instructor. If you have experience and would like to volunteer to help Elia practice her driving skills in her family's car in Redwood City, please contact Jessica, Upward Scholars Marketing & Development Manager, at jessica@upwardscholars.org. Let's make Elia's dream a reality!