Access Reports
Spotlight on Lilyan Prado, spokesperson, "Paying for College" Bus Tour, The Sallie Mae Fund
New Bus Tour spokesperson, Lilyan Prado (center),
with attendees at the New York State Fair.
Callused and bruised, J. Luis Prado's hands give insight into his years as a bricklayer when he pushed the limits of human endurance by often working three jobs to make a better life for his family. For Lilyan Prado, those hands are a thing of beauty—a symbol of a father's love for a daughter and a constant reminder to never lose sight of your dreams.
"My own work ethic is a credit to my father," Lilyan says. "For as long as I can remember, he showed me what it meant to persevere, to work hard, and that education was the way to a better life."
Born in Guatemala, Lilyan, now 27, immigrated with her family to the United States in the early 1980s, eventually settling in Denton, Texas. Her parents separated a year after their arrival, and Lilyan was raised in a single-parent household by her father.
Though far from an idyllic childhood, Lilyan says that thanks to the elder Prado day-to-day life was filled with laughter, camaraderie, and a sense of purpose. Education—and a commitment to use it as a springboard to better oneself—played a central role in her upbringing.
"My father was determined that I would get an education. From the time I was 10, he told me I was going to college and that I was going to one day become a lawyer," Lilyan recalls.
With her father as motivation, Lilyan eventually would become the first in her family to graduate from high school and, later, college. Before achieving either, however, there would be significant obstacles to overcome.
Exhausted from working two jobs, Lilyan dropped out of high school in her senior year. She credits Upward Bound, a program designed to provide opportunities and encouragement for low-income and at-risk students to succeed in college, for convincing her to return to school. In particular, she remembers an Upward Bound field trip to Washington, D.C. that served as a turning point. During the trip, members of Upward Bound were introduced to Max Thornberry, a U.S. congressman, along with his intern, a former Upward Bound member.
"I remember thinking that's exactly what I wanted to do—be an intern and live in Washington, D.C.," says Lilyan. Several years later, fate, luck, and Lilyan's hard work intervened: She was awarded an internship in the nation's capital by the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute, which honored 30 students nationwide who exemplified "the next generation of Latino leaders."
"Upward Bound made all the difference for me," Lilyan says. "Three ladies there believed in me, kept prodding me, and got me to believe in my own potential."
After graduating from high school on time, Lilyan entered North Central Texas Community College, working 50-plus hours per week during the day to pay for school. At night, she attended college classes.
Lilyan Prado (center), Bus Tour spokesperson, with
students at the Indianapolis Bus Tour stop.
A tip from a close friend led her to investigate a scholarship offered by Texas Women's University. Lilyan met with university officials and filled out the necessary paperwork. Shortly thereafter, she learned she had been awarded a full scholarship. And, in 2003, true to her father's prophecy that she would achieve a college education, Lilyan graduated from Texas Women's University with a bachelor's degree in interdisciplinary studies and bilingual education.
Wanting to "give back to the community that had generously given to [her]," Lilyan took a job as a teacher at a middle school she once attended. Two years later, on a summer break from teaching, a job opportunity presented itself during a chance meeting with a representative from The Sallie Mae Fund. Several phone calls and interviews later, Lilyan was hired as a spokesperson for The Sallie Mae Fund's "Paying for College" Bus Tour.
In representing the Bus Tour, Lilyan says the message that she wants to resonate with young Latinos is one of both valuing and improving yourself through higher education.
"I've never given up on my dreams," she says. "And I know I could never have accomplished what I have today without an education. There are so many others just like me out there—all they need is the chance and someone to show them the way.
"Learning about college and finding out how to pay for it can be a complicated process," she adds. "I remember in high school carrying my FAFSA form in my backpack for weeks, hoping someone would answer my questions and help me fill it out. Students need to feel empowered that they can do this and parents, too, need to know they can help get their children to a place that will be able to give them the information they need about college opportunities. The Sallie Mae Fund, through the Bus Tour, can play a major role in making a difference in this area."
Perhaps most important to Lilyan's agenda for the Bus Tour is the opportunity to share her story and struggles with Latino students and their families, offering them the same motivation and sense of purpose that her father continues to instill in her today.
"No matter how overwhelming your individual situation may be, each of us has a greater purpose. Family, friends and strangers helped me realize this over the years. My goal is to help others see their potential—show them, through my story, that you can realize your dreams regardless of where you come from or the color of your skin, and education is the key."
