Daniela Robles - Mother of a Special Needs Child

HARD TIMES

Laredo, Texas, was devastated by the pandemic. We had one of the worst outbreaks in the country. 

I was 21 years old and the mother of a two-year-old daughter and an infant son. My husband worked long hours as a roofer, the sole provider for our family. We were scraping by, but I was struggling with postpartum depression and overwhelmed with fear. 

I constantly worried about my husband. He speaks only Spanish and works under the hot Texas sun every day. 

What if he got sick or injured? 

What if he caught COVID? 

What if If he couldn’t work?

How would we survive? 

The pressure of everything was crushing me. 

But it wasn’t just fear. I felt rage, too. Angry that I felt like I didn’t have a life beyond being a mother and a wife. 

I wanted more. 

I wanted to find purpose. 

I had recently earned my high school diploma online, but I knew I needed more education to make a difference, not just for my family, but for myself. 

RETURNING TO SCHOOL

Today, I’m a summa cum laude graduate of Laredo College with a degree in political science. I’m headed to Texas A&M University on a full scholarship, and I want to become a civil rights attorney. That’s my dream — to provide justice for people like me.

Two years ago, that future seemed impossible. Going back to school was terrifying. No one in my family had ever gone to college. My dad is a truck driver, and I had dropped out of high school at 16, feeling like I didn’t belong. 

My husband pushed me to enroll at Laredo College, knowing how much I love learning. He thought it might help with my depression. 

MY FIRST DAY OF COLLEGE  

I’ll never forget my first day on campus. I was so scared.  But, I was met with support from everyone. At Laredo College, I found a community that believed in me, even when I didn’t believe in myself. My professors, advisors, and classmates all supported me. It didn’t matter that I had quit high school or that I was juggling motherhood and education. They saw my potential. 

At first, I enrolled in the paralegal certification program because I didn’t think I was cut out for a degree. But my instructors noticed how passionate I am about the law and the Constitution. They convinced me to go further. After I finished the certificate, I enrolled in a degree program. I now have a clear goal: to become a lawyer. 

BALANCING SCHOOL AND FAMILY

Balancing school and family was hard—so hard. During my first year, our son was diagnosed with autism. That changed everything. He needed therapy and special care, and it only strengthened my determination to finish school.

Every day was a marathon…

• Wake up at 6 a.m. 
• Make breakfast 
• Take my son to therapy 
• Do homework during his therapy session 
• Clean the house 
• Prepare dinner 
• Pick up the babysitter 
• Drive to school 
• Attend class 
• Drive home 
• Eat family dinner 
• Bathe the kids 
• Help my daughter with her homework 
• Finish my own homework 
• Put the kids to bed 
• Say goodnight to my husband 
• Repeat!

Very often, my four-year-old daughter would help take care of her little brother so I could study.

She would give him a bottle, read him stories, and put him to bed. 

MY SUPPORT NETWORK

There were so many times when I thought about quitting, but I knew our family would require a higher income to provide for his needs. I even told one of my professors that I should drop out and get a job to help support my family. But he told me something I’ll never forget, “You can go back to work, but when you do, remember you’re working for someone else’s dream. If you stay here, you’re working on your dream.” 

That kept me going. My husband, too—he stepped up in every way. He worked long days and still made time to take care of the kids so I could focus on school. My husband never let me give up, and he always reminded me why I was doing this. 

I GRADUATED!

After two long years, with my family cheering on, I graduated with high honors. Looking back, I barely recognize the young woman I was when I started—shy, insecure, afraid.

Now, I’m confident and determined, with a clear path. 

YOU CAN DO IT TOO

If you’re doubting yourself

If you think you’re not smart enough

If raising kids and going to school seems impossible…

Trust me, it’s not. 

At community college, you’ll find the support and guidance you need. It’s an affordable, accessible step toward a future you didn’t think was possible. That’s what I found at Laredo College. 

In many ways, my daughter, my husband, and everyone who helped me at Laredo College graduated with me. They all took part in my success.