Dad Changes Life Thanks to Daughter & VIDA

Article By: Chris Ardis

According to the United States Census Bureau QuickFacts 2018-2022, in the four-county region of Cameron, Hidalgo, Starr and Willacy counties, an average of 67 percent of adults over the age of 25 hold a high-school diploma. A paltry average of 16 percent have a bachelor’s degree or higher.

While the financial burden of higher education — including tuition, books, room and board, tools and equipment, uniforms, transportation and child care — remains staggering for many American families, there is also a psychological aspect that can prove daunting when working toward a degree or skilled-trades certification. Budgeting time can be as important as budgeting money; study skills and anxiety also affect outcomes. Numerous other variables play into whether or not a person graduates. For many, completion offers the opportunity to end generational poverty.

George Ibarra knows about generational poverty, growing up in a financially impoverished home. Nevertheless, his parents understood the power of education. Ibarra graduated from high school but the pressures of life prevented him from furthering his education.

Spanning Generations

Ibarra earned an associate degree in 2022 but knew a bachelor’s degree in computer information technology would significantly increase is opportunities and his income; however, the potential barriers remained. In 2023, in his early 50s with a wife and four adult children, Ibarra learned about the Valley Initiative for Development and Advancement in an unusual way. His daughter, Jenavy, was already a VIDA participant.

VIDA is a nonprofit organization in the Rio Grande Valley designed to end generational poverty and create a new path of generational higher-education completion in high-demand fields. Families with greater financial stability lead to a more robust local and regional economy, which often results in the growth of industries already in the region and the enticement needed to attract new companies to the area.

Ibarra applied and gained acceptance into VIDA, immediately taking advantage of the beyond-financial-assistance support the organization offers. He actively participates in group sessions, intentionally created to address the psychological aspects of higher education; volunteers as part of VIDA’s commitment to show gratitude to the communities that support their work; and offers support and guidance to his fellow VIDA participants.

“VIDA has helped me financially and educationally,” Ibarra said. “The group sessions are very helpful in preparing us to become better students and to reach our goals.”

Ibarra will graduate from South Texas College in 2022, proving that persistence pays off and that it’s never too late to pursue and achieve your goals.

“I want to be an example for my siblings to continue their education,” Ibarra said. “I also want to make my parents proud after they made a lot of sacrifices for me in order for me to continue my education.”

https://valleybusinessreport.com/community/dad-changes-life-thanks-to-daughter-vida/

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