Taking life for
granted is not an option for Reyna Ortiz, a 34-year-old Palo Alto College
freshman and mother of two.
Ortiz and her two sons, Noah, age 3, and Micah, age 2, are currently living
at the San Antonio Metropolitan Ministry
on Blanco Road. SAMMinistries shelter is an interfaith ministry that helps
a person and their family who are homeless or in danger of becoming homeless
find shelter.
Originally from San Antonio, Ortiz moved to Hawaii to help her aunt after
Ortiz’s uncle passed away. After living with her aunt for several
months and helping her, Ortiz met an incredible family in Hawaii from
a local church
who took Ortiz under their wing. After many years in Hawaii, Ortiz decided
to move back to San Antonio to be with her biological family.
“I am from San Antonio, but Hawaii is home to me,” said Ortiz. “I really miss it and want to go back. I hope I can (stick around) long enough to get my degree.”
The TLLC helps to provide families with such services as after school child care, counseling, life skills training, and parenting education, along with many other classes to help families reach the goal of becoming self-sufficient.
“I keep my faith and thank God everyday for making this possible for us,” said Ortiz.
Living at the SAMMinstries requires that either you be in school full-time or work full-time while you are living there. Ortiz has taken on the task of doing both. She not only is a student at Palo Alto College working toward her degree in Accounting, but she also works 15 hours a week as a work study for the Reading Department. Despite the adversity Ortiz has had to overcome, she still remains committed to her family and her studies at Palo Alto.
“Reyna’s attendance is nearly perfect, her homework is always complete and turned in on time, and she has a positive attitude about Mathematics, or at least she does around me,” said Honey Kirk, associate professor of the Mathematics Department. Ortiz is currently enrolled in Kirk’s Intermediate Algebra Class. “Little did I know what challenges outside of class she overcame in order to achieve it!”
Ortiz has never used her challenges outside of the classroom to help with her educational gain inside the classroom. Ortiz, despite overcoming adversity, has never let anything get in her way when it comes to receiving an education.
“Although I think students have a right to explain their situation to teachers and pressure them in certain ways, Reyna did not go that route,” said Dr. Herbert Mann, Ortiz’s former English teacher. “She asked for no favors, offered no excuses. She just kept working, improving and contributing.”
Ortiz is currently enrolled at Palo Alto and will soon be transferring to San Antonio College because of her acceptance to Project Quest. Ortiz will be at San Antonio College as soon as next fall and will continue her education.
“Reyna’s story should be encouraging to others in demonstrating that success is possible when you set goals and work to achieve them,” said Kirk.
SAMMinistries is always looking for donations and volunteers. For more information, contact their administrative offices located on S. Frio Street at 210-220-1240 or email them at hope@samm.org.
For more information about the SAMMinistries and the Transitional Living and Learning Center at 5922 Blanco Road in San Antonio, call 210-921-6188 or email them at hope@samm.org.