Alumni Spotlight: Juan Ramon Guerra
ECC alumnus Juan Ramon Guerra leads his life focused on education, always interested in learning something new, while sharing his knowledge with others.
His path to higher education was full of obstacles, but he took each step in stride, learning new things along the way. After high school in Guatemala, Juan moved to Mexico and after about a year and a half he moved to the Los Angeles area with a cousin. He spoke no English – only Spanish and his native Mayan – had no job, and nowhere to live.
"This part of my life was difficult, but everything is meant to be – that is what I believe," he said. "I knew I had to work on my education. Even when I was little, I was interested in education."
After adjusting to the initial culture shock of life in the United States, Juan was able to work odd jobs and soon was on a bus to El Camino College where he planned to apply for a job. At the ECC information desk, he learned about the college and decided to apply as a student as well.
"This part of my life was difficult, but everything is meant to be – that is what I believe," he said. "I knew I had to work on my education. Even when I was little, I was interested in education."
Juan started in ESL classes and soon noticed people on campus using American Sign Language (ASL), so he took those classes too, graduating in 2000 with a degree as a sign language/interpreter. That led to a job as an ASL interpreter at El Camino College for one year, an ESL paraprofessional for two years and a position in the testing office for 13 years. Juan transferred to California State University, Northridge in 2004, where he took the bus from the South Bay each day and earned a bachelor’s degree in deaf studies in 2007, a master’s degree as a marriage and family therapist in 2010 and a second master’s degree in career counseling in 2012. He now works in Los Angeles as a therapist, where he provides services in English, Spanish and ASL.
"I am very grateful to El Camino College for my education," he said. "When I earned my degrees I learned that everything you need to succeed is in the mind and that is very powerful. Now I want to share my story with others and tell them, ‘when we struggle to conquer a goal, no matter how ugly the day might look, there is still going to be sunshine.’ I truly believe this."
Juan has not stopped with his education. He plans to begin a doctoral program in clinical physiology next year and is learning Braille, French and Italian.
"I want to challenge myself to learn," he said. "To me, education is so valuable and important and I like to share what I learn, so I won’t stop learning."