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| Student Profile: Rosie Esparza Rosie Esparza is a vibrant, motivated and resourceful young woman. She works full time for Food Bank of the Rockies as a Compliance Certifier, which means she finds people who qualify, seniors over 60 and children under 6, and registers them for the food bank. Once they are registered, they can visit the food bank once a month. Rosie started working with the Food Bank of the Rockies more than one year ago when she was still a high school student at New America School in Northglenn. She chose New America School because of its flexible schedule, offering both day and night programs. Its small, supportive environment is just what she needed after attending both Adams City High School and Lester Arnold in Commerce City and struggling to succeed. Her typical day would start at 7am at the food bank and she would leave her job at 3:30pm so she could begin her night schooling from 4:30-10pm. She graduated from New America School in June 2008. Although she enjoys her work at the food bank her goal is to return to school to become a dental assistant. Rosie was born in Zacatecas, Mexico, and she emigrated to the U.S. when she was three years old. Her father had moved to the U.S. in 1986, and her mother and siblings followed a few years later. Immediately upon arriving in the states, her parents sought the help of an immigration attorney so the family could begin working on receiving their green cards and eventually U.S. citizenship. In 1995, the family received their green cards, and Rosie, by the third grade, was fluent in both Spanish and English. Rosie received her citizenship in March 2008; she and one of her brothers (two other siblings had received their citizenship earlier, and her youngest sibling was born in the U.S.) attended the swearing in ceremony, which she admitted was emotional. Rosie credits so much of her success and drive to her parents. Her father passed away three years ago, and Rosie was very close to him. She continued to push ahead because he and her mother instilled that drive in her. Rosie recently turned 20 years old, graduated from high school, received her citizenship, works full time in a position she loves, and bought her first new car. Her father would be so proud of her. To learn more about the New America School visit www.newamericaschool.org. To learn more about the Food Bank of the Rockies visit www.foodbankrockies.org.  |
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