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Graduating in Just Two Years, Greeley Local Eager to Begin Pursuing Law

Jerry Guzman

April 27, 2023

Para español aquí

Jerry Guzman, ’23, is graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology at just 20 years old. Though he has only been at UNC two years, he has accomplished so much and still has big plans for his future. 

Guzman’s grandfather first moved alone to Greeley from Chiapas, Mexico after hearing from others about the good weather and job opportunities. He sent money from working on local farms back to his family in Mexico. Then, shortly before Guzman was born, his grandmother, parents and their siblings moved to Greeley too. 

The family hoped to provide a better life and opportunities for their children. While they accomplished that, they had to make a lot of sacrifices including overcoming language, cultural and immigration barriers. His parents and grandparents left behind all of their family and friends, their native language and their homes. They worked mostly in agriculture – laboring on farms that grew onions, carrots and tomatoes. 

Education was always at the top of the list in terms of priorities for Guzman and his parents. Because they were non-native English speakers and had not attended college themselves, their career opportunities were limited. They instilled in Guzman the importance of education and hard work in the classroom in order to have more opportunities after graduation. That’s why Guzman went to a dual enrollment high school – Early College Academy in Greeley, to earn an associate degree while simultaneously earning his high school diploma.  

When selecting where to earn his bachelor’s degree, UNC was a natural choice for Guzman. He could stay close to home to continue helping his family. Plus, he received numerous forms of financial support, including the Federal Pell Grant awarded to undergraduate students who display exceptional financial need the Greeley Promise Scholarship awarded to local high school students who are Colorado residents and the UNC Trustee Scholarship, a merit-based form of aid. 

Guzman lived at home during his two years at UNC so that he could support his family. He scheduled his classes in the morning and early afternoon so that he could pick up his sisters from elementary school and then stay up late to go pick up his grandmother from work at JBS Foods in Greeley. 

Guzman chose Sociology because he loves studying the intersection between human psychology and the world. He plans to continue his education by going to law school and becoming an immigration lawyer. This is partially due to his parents’ and grandparents’ experiences immigrating to the United States. Their inability to read, speak and comprehend English left most of that responsibility to Guzman. He is bilingual and, as the oldest of four children, handles reading the families bills, legal immigration paperwork, FAFSA forms, Pell Grants and other important documents.  

“The turning point that established my dream to become an immigration lawyer was just when my grandmother became a U.S. resident. Although I was young at the time, I eventually learned how hard that process was and how it was (and is) a problem for so many regarding obtaining legal status,” Guzman said. 

At UNC, Guzman’s professors have become some of these biggest supporters both in and out of the classroom. Sandra Harmon, a senior lecturer in the Sociology Department, helped Guzman plan for his next steps after graduation. She introduced him to a UNC alumna and local Deputy District Attorney Tate Costin, whom Guzman interviewed about her experience transitioning from an undergraduate student to a law student. Guzman said he wants to follow a similar path in his own career.  

“[Jerry] is an excellent example for UNC as we strive towards being designated as an HSI [Hispanic Serving Institution]. He is from northern Colorado, a second-generation immigrant who grew up in Greeley and attended and graduated from a District 6 school with a dual enrollment degree,” said Harmon. “He was in my class at UNC his first year, and his excitement for learning and engagement has not diminished but strengthened. He is remarkable.” 

As his college graduation approaches, Guzman has his plans in place to help him reach his goals: he will work for a year, save money, then start law school in August 2024.  

“Jerry is what I see as an ‘ideal student,’ said Rebecca Beals, associate professor of sociology. “He was engaged, prepared, curious, hard-working and enthusiastic about his studies. He has such a positive impact on the classroom community in his contributions to both the academic and social aspects of learning,”  

“[Jerry]'showed up' to class every single day displaying these traits. He never shied away from asking questions or sharing perspectives that invigorated his and his peers' learning. His positive energy is contagious........[he was] also reliably prepared for work that needed to be done.” 

 – written by Christina Abel


Alumno originario de Greeley se gradua en solo dos años y ya está listo para estudiar derecho

Jerry Guzmán, de 23 años, se gradúa con una licenciatura en Sociología con sólo 20 años. Aunque sólo lleva dos años en UNC, ha logrado mucho y todavía tiene grandes planes para su futuro.  

El abuelo de Guzmán se mudó solo a Greeley desde Chiapas, México, después de que otros le hablaran del buen clima y de las oportunidades de trabajo. Enviaba a su familia en México el dinero que ganaba trabajando en las granjas locales. Poco antes de que naciera Guzmán, su abuela, sus padres y sus hermanos se vinieron tamabién a vivir a Greeley.  

La familia esperaba ofrecer una vida mejor y oportunidades a sus hijos. Aunque lo consiguieron, tuvieron que hacer muchos sacrificios, como superar las barreras lingüísticas, culturales y de inmigración. Sus padres y abuelos dejaron atrás a toda su familia y amigos, su lengua materna y sus hogares. Trabajaron sobre todo en la agricultura, en granjas de cebollas, zanahorias y tomates.  

La educación siempre fue una de las prioridades de Guzmán y sus padres. Como no hablaban inglés como lengua materna y no habían ido a la universidad, sus oportunidades profesionales eran limitadas. Inculcaron a Guzmán la importancia de la educación y del trabajo duro en las aulas para tener más oportunidades después de graduarse. Es por eso que Guzmán fue a una escuela preparatoria (high school) de doble matrícula - Early College Academy en Greeley, para obtener un título de asociado, mientras que al mismo tiempo obtenía su diploma de la prepa. 

Al momento de elegir dónde obtener su licenciatura, la UNC fue una opción natural para Guzmán. Podía quedarse cerca de casa para seguir ayudando a su familia. Además, recibió numerosas formas de apoyo financiero, incluyendo la Beca Federal Pell otorgada a estudiantes universitarios que muestran una necesidad financiera excepcional, la Beca Greeley Promise otorgada a estudiantes de preparatoria locales que son residentes de Colorado y la Beca UNC Trustee, una forma de ayuda basada en el mérito.  

Guzmán vivió en casa durante sus dos años en la UNC para poder mantener a su familia. Programó sus clases por la mañana y temprano por la tarde para poder recoger a sus hermanas de la escuela primaria y luego quedarse hasta tarde para ir a recoger a su abuela del trabajo en JBS Foods en Greeley.  

Guzmán escogió Sociología porque le encanta estudiar la intersección entre la psicología humana y el mundo. Planea continuar su educación estudiando Derecho y convertirse en abogado de inmigración. Esto se debe en parte a las experiencias de sus padres y abuelos al emigrar a Estados Unidos. Su incapacidad para leer, hablar y comprender el inglés dejó la mayor parte de esa responsabilidad a Guzmán. Él es bilingüe y, como el mayor de cuatro hijos, se encarga de leer las facturas de la familia, el papeleo legal de inmigración, los formularios FAFSA, las becas Pell y otros documentos importantes. 

"El momento más importante que estableció mi sueño de convertirme en un abogado de inmigración fue justo cuando mi abuela se convirtió en residente de EE.UU. Aunque yo era joven en ese momento, con el tiempo aprendí lo difícil que era ese proceso y cómo era (y es) un problema para tantos en lo que respecta a obtener un estatus legal", dijo Guzmán.  

En UNC, los profesores de Guzmán se han convertido en algunos de sus mayores apoyos tanto dentro como fuera del aula. Sandra Harmon, profesora del Departamento de Sociología, ayudó a Guzmán a planificar sus próximos pasos después de la graduación. Le presentó a una ex alumna de la UNC y  fiscal adjunta del distrito local, Tate Costin, a quien Guzmán entrevistó sobre su experiencia en la transición de estudiante universitario a estudiante de Derecho. Guzmán dijo que quiere seguir un camino similar en su propia carrera.   

"Jerry] es un excelente ejemplo para UNC en nuestro esfuerzo por ser designados como una HSI [Institución de Servicio a Hispanos]. Él es del norte de Colorado, un inmigrante de segunda generación que creció en Greeley y asistió y se graduó de una escuela del Distrito 6 con un título de inscripción dual", dijo Harmon. "Estuvo en mi clase en UNC su primer año, y su entusiasmo por aprender y comprometerse no ha disminuido sino que se ha fortalecido. Es extraordinario".  

A medida que se acerca su graduación universitaria, Guzmán tiene sus planes en marcha para ayudarlo a alcanzar sus metas: trabajará durante un año, ahorrará dinero y luego comenzará a estudiar derecho en agosto de 2024. 

"Jerry es lo que yo considero un 'estudiante ideal'", dijo Rebecca Beals, profesora asociada de Sociología. "Estaba comprometido, preparado, curioso, trabajador y entusiasmado con sus estudios. Tiene un impacto tan positivo en la comunidad de la clase en sus contribuciones tanto a los aspectos académicos como sociales del aprendizaje".   

“(Jerry) se presentaba a clase cada día mostrando estos rasgos. Nunca se privó de hacer preguntas o de compartir puntos de vista que estimularan su aprendizaje y el de sus compañeros. Su energía positiva es contagiosa........él está también muy bien preparado para cualquier trabajo que haya que hacer." 

 –escrito por Christina Abel y traducido por Carlos José Pérez Sámano 


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