A Legacy of Perseverance
At age 68, international student María Tobalina is building her skills, her knowledge, her resumé, and her network at Minneapolis College following a decades-long teaching career in her native Lima, Perú.
María’s path hasn’t been easy. She raised three children, prioritizing their education. All three achieved college degrees and two have earned master’s degrees. Now she is a grandmother, far from home, adapting to modern technology and new ways of learning.
Going back to school in the U.S. was never part of the plan. In December 2019 she came to visit her daughter, son-in-law, and grandchild in Minneapolis for a couple of months over the holidays. At the time, María spoke no English. Then the pandemic hit and her daughter convinced her to stay.
When she tried to quit her kindergarten and pre-K teaching job in Perú, the principal refused to accept her resignation. Instead, the school asked her to teach online and switched her to a classroom of first-, second-, and third-graders, which required additional training.
A dream worth fighting for
In the midst of adapting to a new language, a new culture, a new climate, and the challenges of isolation with family during the pandemic, María had to quickly learn new virtual platforms and protocols while teaching young children who were new to computers, and obtaining her certification online. “It was chaos,” she said.
After nearly four years living with her daughter and her family, María managed to become independent and to start a new chapter in her own space in Lakeville. Her budget was tight, but she had obtained her green card and went to work part time.
Family connections helped to make ends meet, as well—her brother in California added her to his cell phone plan; her daughter co-signed a loan so she could buy a car; her son-in-law spent evenings teaching her to drive; and family members in Perú kept in touch, providing emotional support.
A devotee of lifelong learning, María searched for college courses she could take in Spanish, and found the Early Childhood Education program (Educación de la Primera Infancia) at Minneapolis College.
It’s never too late
She entered the program with her CDA (Child Development Associate) credential in hand, and was able to earn her Early Child Education certificate within the first year. She landed a job at a day care center, where she received a teaching award based on her experience and dedication.
Year two of the program was more challenging because some courses were taught in English. María used translation apps to understand the material. She wrote papers and exams in Spanish, then translated them to English—an exhausting exercise, but one that has paid off. She was invited to join the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society (PTK) for top-performing students and will graduate with an associate degree in Early Childhood Education.
María described her experience at Minneapolis College as “profoundly enriching. It was not about external recognition, but about completing a personal chapter in my life and proving to myself that it’s never too late to keep growing,” she said.
Her plan for the future is to stay in Minnesota, “to continue learning, connect with people who share my passion for education, and leave a legacy of perseverance—especially for women who, like me, have dedicated their lives to others but still dream of personal fulfillment.”