Today’s story is one of profound resilience. Erica Montoya defied the expected outcome of a challenging upbringing through years of hard work and dedication. She completed her Master of Science in Nursing with a specialization in Administration and Management and graduated with honors in April 2024. Erica is the winner of Aspen University’s 2024 Commencement Student Speaker contest.
If these adobe walls could talk, they would share the story of my childhood filled with fear and heartbreak. I grew up in New Mexico and was raised by my great-grandparents until my great-grandmother’s death in 1999. I was then sent to live with my grandmother and mother, transitioning from a loving home to one plagued by drugs, alcohol, and abuse.
My grandmother’s harsh words, “You will never finish high school or be anything of value,” echoed in my mind and pushed me to seek a way out. In a community where education was undervalued and addiction was rampant, I clung to the hope of just getting through high school. At 14 years old, my world was crushed when I found my mother had overdosed on heroin. I lost her that day, but watching compassionate nurses care for her and treat her with dignity and respect inspired me to become a nurse.
Navigating the world as a homeless Hispanic youth was daunting. My grandmother’s home was not an option due to her own struggles with addiction and abusive tendencies. To avoid the foster care system I stayed with other family and friends, and was sometimes on my own. I felt hopeless about the future. High school became my sanctuary thanks to my dance and theater teacher, Ms. Bernadette Pena, who never gave up on me. Her encouragement, along with support from my big sister Virginia, my aunts Claudia and Vera, and my friends, kept me going. High school offered stability; caring teachers, a supportive dance team, and daily meals. I knew that my time in high school would end, so I had to make a plan. A Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) course in my senior year presented an opportunity. I passed and secured a job at a local hospital, working alongside some of the nurses who had cared for my mother. This experience deepened my resolve to pursue nursing.
It took me five years to complete my Associate’s Degree in Nursing while balancing full-time work with part-time studies. Discouraged by waitlists at my community college, I applied to nursing programs in two other cities, eventually commuting 160 miles daily to attend my chosen program. Despite the devastating loss of my aunt Vera after graduation, I pressed on, enrolling in Aspen University’s RN to MSN bridge program specializing in Administration and Management. This program and my instructors gave me a voice and taught me that I CAN AND WILL SUCCEED. Each week I proceeded toward my educational goal and found that each paper I wrote held hope, each page I read held purpose. Each step forward represented the breaking of generational curses.
In 2021, I co-founded Sunflower Mobile and Medical Clinic with Elizabeth Olis. Our clinic serves the beautiful community of Santa Fe and supports the local judicial system’s drug court, providing primary care and outpatient drug and alcohol treatment and support.
Reflecting on my journey, from a fragile girl dismissed and doubted to a successful healthcare professional and business owner, I embody the change I once only dreamed of. My message is clear: “Be the change you want and need to see in the world. When people tell you that you won’t make it, prove them wrong! Keep moving forward, and never give up on your dreams! You are important, you can change your future, and you can succeed.” This is for all the kids who are growing up in homes where addiction is prevalent. It may feel like you can’t get out, but you hold the pen that writes the story of your future. If my adobe walls could talk they would express love, kindness, and hope for us and for our future generations.
Erica’s story is the epitome of Aspen’s mission to empower students to transform their lives. We are truly honored to have been a part of her journey. Congratulations, Erica!