Hi, my name is Ericka Villegas and I just want to say that it has been a long road for me. It has been a struggle to work part time, attend college full time and be a full time mom of three beautiful kids, but nothing is impossible. It has taken me longer than other students to accomplish my goals, but with a little patience, dedication and a lot of effort I am proud to say that I am graduating today, June 5th 2010.

I am very proud and excited about my big accomplishment, but my dreams will not stop here, I am determined to keep going to school for a better life, future and to help the community out. I want to pass on my experiences and knowledge I have gained at NHU and help Latinos continue their education and be successful in life because nothing is impossible. If I did it working part time, raising a family and being a full time student, anybody can do it, nothing is impossible, SI SE PUEDE!

I want to thank my parents Martha and Alfonso Villegas for believing in me and never giving up on me. I specially want to thank my father for all the late nights he stayed up with me helping me with my school work. I want to thank my mother for always being there for me and helping me out with my three precious kids. I want to thank my husband Ramses Solis and my children Jadzai, Ramses Jr. and Itzel Solis for standing by me throughout these rough school years and for their help, patience, support and dedication while being a full time student. I want to thank my beautiful sister and best friend Karina Villegas for always being there for me and helping me out with my homework when I needed help. I want to thank my dear friend Ericka Murillo who I met the first year I started at NHU; she has always been there for me and has helped me out so much in school. I would also like to thank all of my professors and counselors for believing in me, for their time, help, and dedication and above all for the knowledge they have now passed on to the NHU soon to be Graduate Students.

Thanks for making this happen!

Ericka Villegas.