THE AURORA ALWORTH SPIRIT AWARD

The Aurora Alworth Spirit Award award recognizes a Capital IDEA graduate who embodies resilience, determination, and the spirit of opportunity—someone who has faced obstacles head-on and emerged stronger, ready to give back to their community.

This year’s recipient, Josefina Rodriguez, is a shining example of that spirit.   

As a mother and first-generation college graduate, Josefina’s journey has been marked by perseverance. She overcame challenges that might have stopped others in their tracks, balancing the demands of school, work, and family. She remained focused on her goal, never giving up, and today, she stands before us as a registered nurse—a career she pursued with both passion and purpose.   

Josie’s story is one of strength and the power of education to transform lives. But rather than tell you her story myself, I want to invite Josie to share it in her own words.

JOSEFINA RODRIGUEZ’S ACCEPTANCE SPEECH

It is an immense honor to stand before you today, sharing not just my story, but a journey that belongs to so many people who have walked beside me. This journey is the result of the love and perseverance of my parents, the strength of my children, and the unwavering support of those who believed in me. I hope that, by sharing my experiences, I can offer a bit of hope and inspiration to anyone who may be walking a similar path.

As a proud first-generation American, born to parents who came to this country from Mexico in search of better opportunities, I’ve always understood the power of hard work, resilience, and love. My parents faced countless challenges coming to a new country, not knowing the language or the customs. Yet, they persisted, driven by their hope for a brighter future for their children. I am living proof of their sacrifices, and I carry their strength with me every single day.

I often reflect on the courage it must have taken for my parents to start over in a new place, away from everything they knew. And even with this challenges they made sure that my brother and I were raised with the love and encouragement we needed to believe in ourselves. They taught us that with hard work, nothing was impossible.

Growing up, things were not always easy. I was blessed with a family full of love, but like many others, I faced my share of challenges—challenges that sometimes felt insurmountable. I remember my first day of kindergarten, full of excitement, only to be struck with fear and confusion when my teacher spoke in English, a language I didn’t know existed let alone understand it. This my first challenge of many. But, little by little, I began to master this new language. It wasn’t easy, but by the time high school came, I was speaking and understanding English, even if I wasn’t the best at spelling—thank goodness for spellcheck.

Education was always valued in my home. My parents believed it was the key to unlocking the future. They made sure we understood that education wasn’t just about books—it was about opportunity. And for me, that opportunity came with its own set of struggles. Like many young people, I didn’t fully appreciate the importance of college and education at first, and as life went on, I found myself in situations that made it harder to pursue my dreams.

I was just 19 when I became a mother, and I know knew the fear of letting my daughter down as well as my dreams of becoming someone important, someone who could make a difference. It all seemed to be out of reach. But my parents reminded me that they didn’t come this far for me to give up. They believed in me, even when I didn’t believe in myself.

After I had my daughter I knew I need to figure things out and fast. I made the decision to become a medical assistant. And for a time I felt like I was making a big difference but by mastering my role I also began to train nurses. This got me thinking that if I could teach nurses, why couldn’t I go back to school and become a nurse? That thought stayed with me, and with the help of Capital IDEA, I was able to turn that dream into a reality. They believed in me when I wasn’t sure how to take the first step. They helped me with tuition, with childcare, and with guidance every step of the way.

I worked tirelessly to pay off debts and save money, and eventually, I took the leap. Juggling school, life, and raising young children wasn’t easy, especially with the challenges brought by the pandemic. But through it all, my mother’s voice echoed in my head: “Tú síguele y échale ganas”—Keep going and give it your best. That encouragement kept me going when I thought I couldn’t anymore.

When my last semester came, it was a struggle. I had some amazing successes, but there were tough times too. Yet, I didn’t let any of that stop me. I pushed through every obstacle because I knew my children were watching, and I had to show them what hard work, persistence, and love could achieve. Just as my parent had done for me.

The day I passed my NCLEX on the first try, I couldn’t believe it. It was surreal. But the real reward came when my parents—especially my dad—told me how proud they were of me. He said he always knew I had it in me, and now I had proven it.

But none of this would have been possible without the support of others. Sister Anne, Ron, Liz, mom, dad and Capital IDEA. To everyone who believed in me, thank you. To those who are facing their own challenges right now, please know this: You are not alone. No matter what obstacles stand in your way, you can overcome them. Keep going, seek support, and don’t ever give up.

You started this journey for a reason, and you are capable of achieving your dreams.

Thank you so much for your time today. And always remember: échale ganas—keep going!