For many students, graduation marks the culmination of years of hard work and sacrifice.
But for one Front Range Community College family, it represents something even more profound: a shared journey of growth and perseverance. This year, a mother and her child will cross the stage together—each earning their degree, and each carrying a story shaped by commitment to education and to one another.
Alicia Maldonado was born and raised in Mexico City but moved to the US as a young woman. This month she is graduating with her Associate of Arts degree in early childhood education at the same time that her child Gio Rubio is completing their Associate of Science in English. The duo took different paths through FRCC, but their experiences intersected in powerful ways.
A Flexible and Supportive Learning Environment
As a working parent, Alicia sought a college environment that could support the many responsibilities she carried.
“I needed a place that was supportive and let me juggle my personal life,” she says. “Being a mom, a student and having a full-time job, FRCC was the best option.”
Gio, meanwhile, was drawn to FRCC for its attainability and flexibility.
“It just felt very accessible, and there was the availability of online classes, which made it easier for me to juggle my full-time job and still go to school,” Gio says.
Finding Confidence
Despite starting from different motivations, both found a sense of belonging that shaped their academic journeys.
Alicia describes her experience as deeply supportive.
“It was very community-oriented,” she says. “Everybody was very helpful. Tutors, counselors, teachers and even my peers in classes, were supportive and made me feel like I belonged.”
A Life-Changing Experience
For Gio, that sense of belonging grew over time, especially through involvement in FRCC’s TRIO program.
TRIO is a group of federally funded programs that provide support to help students who come from limited-income backgrounds, are first-generation college students or who have a documented disability succeed academically. These programs are designed to motivate and guide students as they progress through the educational journey—from middle school to college graduation.
“I think my experience at FRCC was—honestly—life-changing,” Gio says. “When I first came to Front Range, I was very unsure if I wanted to go into higher education.”
Outside Their Comfort Zone
“TRIO pushed me to do things that I never expected, like joining clubs and getting scholarship opportunities that I always felt doubt about before. They really pushed me to just go for it and stop letting the fear drag me down. They really changed my life.”
Through faculty, staff, peers and others, both Alicia and Gio found encouragement that helped them push past doubt and discover new possibilities.
Overcoming Challenges
Balancing school with life’s demands was no small feat, especially for Alicia, who managed work, parenting and coursework simultaneously.
“Balancing everyday life, raising my children at home and having a full-time job was a lot sometimes, and I felt like I couldn’t do it at times,” she shares.
“But I kept going, and my kids were supporting me through it like, ‘You can do it, mom!’”
Learning to Juggle
Gio faced their own challenges, including financial pressures and the demands of pursuing multiple academic interests while working.
“I think the biggest one probably has been juggling work while being in school,” they say.
“I was able to get a lot of different resources from Front Range, like the WOLF Pantry. I just had to figure out how to take care of myself and make sure that I am doing as well in school as I can.”
Through persistence and support, both mother and child navigated these obstacles and emerged stronger for it.
Motivation and Meaning
At the heart of Alicia’s story is her family, especially her children.
“I wanted to show my kids that no matter how old you are or what stage of your life you are in, you can still succeed in education and get a degree,” she says.
Gio also found motivation in family, but with a broader lens on the generational impact of education.
“Being a first-generation student means having the possibility of essentially changing the trajectory of where our family goes. Education really makes an impact, not just on yourself during your lifetime, but generationally,” Gio says.
Their shared milestone this May reflects both personal achievement and a legacy in the making.
Pride, Growth, What Comes Next
Graduation brings pride for Alicia.
“I am very excited and very proud,” she says. “And I have a sense of accomplishment that I did something to better my life.”
Gio sees graduation as just the beginning.
“I’m excited,” Gio says. “I am really looking forward to taking harder classes and continuing to show myself that I can rise above what I expected from myself.”
Both are continuing their educational journeys. Alicia plans to transfer to the University of Northern Colorado to pursue teacher licensure in early childhood education, while Gio will attend Colorado State University to study biomedical science.
Words for Future Students
When asked what they would say to others considering FRCC, Alicia’s message is clear.
“It’s never too late. Today is the right moment to start something new,” she says.
Gio echoes that encouragement, with an emphasis on engagement.
“I would say get involved. Truly the hardest thing sometimes is to take that first step into a room, but once you’re there you find that everything after that just comes so easily.”
A Shared Moment
Walking across the graduation stage together is both symbolic of—and a testament to—their resilience and to the power of education to transform lives across generations.
Alicia and Gio’s story captures what makes the FRCC community so special: the understanding that no matter where you start, you belong here.
