Born in the US to Mexican immigrants, Phoenix College alumna Debby Suarez's disposition and speech suggest she is far wiser than her age. Speaking of her parents and older siblings, she said, "I'm grateful for everything they've given me. Nothing started with me. My story started a long time ago." Debby's mom grew up in a small house in Mexico with no electricity and water, so when Debby's picture, name, and college appeared on the jumbotron during a surprise scholarship announcement at a Diamondbacks game, her mom was full of pride. Recipient of the One Dream at a Time Scholarship from St. Vincent De Paul, where she has been an intern for the last three years, Debby leads the summer learning program for kids 4 - 17. "Families who are struggling come to us. We hear many stories of hardship, so we journal with the kids. On Friday, we make room for reflection and a unity circle to create awareness. As a kid, I would have appreciated the expressive part because I tend to keep stuff inside. That's the way I cope."
Debby sometimes laments the lack of a carefree childhood, yet she remains philosophical about her journey. Pursuing a bachelor's degree in speech and hearing science and a master's in speech pathology at Arizona State University (ASU), Debbie is a thoughtful communicator and avid reader. "My older siblings gave me a lot of books to read when I was younger." She recalls reading A Series of Unfortunate Events, which she read and reread to expand her vocabulary. As a freshman in high school, she rediscovered Spanish in AP Spanish and Culture. "I showed my mom some books I was supposed to read, and she said, 'No, don't read that, read this.' A lot of what my mom watched as a little girl was in Spanish, and I watched SpongeBob in English, so there was a difference there already. That awoke something in me." Now, Debby delves into books about racialized trauma and social theory, including My Grandmother's Hands by therapist Resmaa Menakem and All about Love by bell hooks.
The Benefits of Phoenix College's Early College Programs for High School Students
Debby's path to higher education started at Metro Tech High School, where she was a National Honors Society and Educators Rising member. She also co-chaired the M.E.C.h.A club to promote unity and empowerment. Debby first heard about Phoenix College's Achieving a College Education (ACE) program from her high school counselor, Ms. Wiener. ACE supports high school students in becoming first-generation, dual-enrollment college students. Because of the pandemic, Debby's first ACE semester in the Summer of 2020 was online. "My mom cleans houses, so I would clock into class at 8 am while my mom drove, complete my coursework using my hotspot and data, then I'd clean with my mom." In her second semester, Debby took ENG101 online but went to PC's student union each Saturday morning for the wifi. The in-person summer classes, she said, were life-changing because she had to get to campus on her own every day. "It was nothing like high school and so much better," she said. "It gave me a sense of independence. I didn't know anybody, and nobody knew me. I got to meet so many new people. I had a blast."
Debby's hard work in the ACE program paid off. She earned enough credits to enroll at ASU as a junior. "I'll be at ASU for three years and leave with a master's degree," she states. She is especially grateful to Phoenix College ACE Program Coordinator Yvonne Tapia for her unwavering support. "Yvonne has always been there for me," Debby said. "She's my go-to person when I have a question. She shared what her parents and sister went through as immigrants. Yvonne doesn't conform to a lot of mexican cultural standards–she's not married and doesn't have kids–so when everyone is telling us, 'Oh, get married already,' I love and respect that about her." The impact of the ACE program on Debby's life is undeniable, highlighting the importance of such initiatives in supporting first-generation college students. Debby’s twin sisters are currently in the ACE program.
From Metro Tech and Phoenix College to Arizona State University
With her first year at ASU complete, Debby reflected on the opportunities college has brought. Over winter break, she traveled to Italy with a professor and other ASU students on a study abroad program. During the trip, she took Italian 101. "To practice Italian, the professor gave us money and a list of certain vegetables to buy at the market. When we returned we had to say how much money we had left, in Italian." Those challenges made Debby reflect on her parents' experience when first arriving to the US, having to buy food for their family and not knowing the language or the currency. When Debby was desperate for cookies in Italy, and couldn't find biscotti, she thought, I need my mom right now. She returned from the trip with compassion for her parents and their experience as immigrants. "As Hispanics, we always talk about our collective struggle," Debby explained, "but we never talk about what each family member has to go through and what is suffered in silence."
In Italy, Debby also realized that the US is not the center of the world. Growing up, her father would talk about the greatness of the USA and all the opportunities, but she heard a broader perspective during her time abroad. She visited the Roman Coliseum, and with three days after the program to explore, she went to Milan with two other ASU students, twins Srinidhi and Malavika Kannan. There, they toured the Duomo and visited the Ferrari store. The three plan to visit Germany this year for another study abroad program.
Debby reflected on many life-changing moments that college has brought, but one that sticks with her is the classroom environment her ACE teachers provided, with the freedom to research and write on subjects she cared about. "I was able to do a paper on native food sovereignty. While writing and editing, I felt so accomplished to see what I had done." Navigating cultural identity, personal growth, and empowerment, Debby has embraced self-awareness, empathy, and compassion, and brings her wisdom and profundity everywhere she goes.
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Do you know a Phoenix high school student who would benefit from the ACE program and its first-generation college student support? Contact the Phoenix College ACE Program to receive an application: ecp@phoenixcollege.edu or call (602) 285-7743.