Spanish. When she enrolled at Palo Alto, she was still strengthening her English-speaking skills.

When Mendez began college, she enrolled in Developmental Math and Writing courses.

Mendez began college with the intention of becoming an art teacher. However, that changed when she began to realize the need for health care system reform, particularly concerning autistic adults. Mendez has a 15-year-old son, Jose S. Guadalupe, who is autistic.

"I want to change the system," she said. "The residential system for [autistic residents] is awful. The client has no rights. I do not want that for my child."

After her active duty husband received an assignment to Savannah, Georgia, in 1994, she left Palo Alto and enrolled at St. Leo’s College, now St. Leo’s University, in 1995. In December 1997, she received her bachelor’s degree in Criminology.

When she returned to San Antonio, Mendez enrolled at St. Mary’s University, where she completed her master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling in December 2001. It took Mendez ten years to complete two degrees while caring for her two children and running a household while her husband was away on assignments.

"I realized, after completing my BA, that in the social work area, it does not matter how much caring and knowledge one has if the letters are not present after one’s name," Mendez said.

A driving force behind obtaining her second degree was the fact that Mendez wants a world where people are respected, not for what they have, but for who they are.

"She is a marvelous woman with so much energy," said Ellen Shull, an English professor at Palo Alto and one of Mendez’s former teachers. "Energy is what you notice about her. She exudes it."

Currently, Mendez is employed at Roy Maas Youth Alternatives, where she is an individual and family therapist. This is a rare position since Mendez is able to receive pay while completing the hours required for her to receive her permanent license. Even though Mendez has been in this job only two weeks, she has already made an impact, according to Michelle Cortez, Counseling Center Director.

"When I interviewed [Ana], she was extremely positive," Cortez said. "Her energy level and commitment to our families were obvious, so all those things stuck out about her. Her positive attitude makes such a huge difference."

Mendez says that in order to have a successful college experience, students must be willing to go the extra mile and give effort at all times.

"Studying is never over. You never stop. People think you do, but there are always more things you have to learn about," Mendez said.

"Ana’s interest in learning never once flagged," said Shull. "She was always ready to re-do and re-learn. She was willing to do all the extras it took."

Despite graduating and receiving two degrees, Mendez has more aspirations.

"My ambition is to have staffed apartments for highly functional autistic people. I would like for them to learn how to grow vegetables, care for animals--to work the whole person," Mendez said.

Mendez would also like to take courses on how to write requests for grants, so that she can apply to receive funding for her center. Is that enough? For Mendez, the answer is no.

"I always wanted to be a lawyer and might still do that. But, for now, I am very happy with what I do."

According to Mendez, hard work is the key to becoming a success. Grades are not necessarily a reflection of what a person knows or can accomplish.

"I was a very average student with B’s and C’s and some A’s but I still wanted to attend college,” Mendez said.

"I do not remember her grades; I remember her motivation," Shull said.

Mendez attributes knowing when you have reached success to two things: 1) when you have reached your goals, and 2) when you feel at peace with your desires and accomplishments.

"When one is sure and passionate about their path, then the accomplishments are reached faster, with a sense of innner peace," Mendez said. "Follow your passions. The road will be less traumatic if you follow what you love."

In order to accomplish your goals and be able to have a successful academic career and life in general, the most important thing is to know that there is a purpose for all that happens according to Mendez.

"No matter how difficult, frustrating or challenging one’s life can be, look for the positive things in life. With a well-rounded education, one should be able to overcome difficulties that one comes into contact with," she said.

As for difficulties in balancing her social life and college life, Mendez said that she has been supported throughout her academic career.

"Through all my life, I have had people supporting me," Mendez said. "My grandmother and aunt were the ones who started to groom me for the future. They planted the seed of education in me."

After Mendez married and returned to college, she still had a network of support around from her two sons, then six years old and four years old, and her husband, Samuel Guadalupe. Her other son, Julio A. Guadalupe, is now 13.

"In later years, my husband has been my biggest fan," Mendez said. "He encouraged me to return to school, helped me with my school work, and continued to encourage me until I finished my M.A."

Through all this education and knowledge seeking, Mendez learned the world is a classroom "I have learned to appreciate others, since they can teach me a lot,” Mendez said.