[MUSIC PLAYING] SPEAKER: OTAN, Outreach and Technical Assistance Network. 

[MUSIC PLAYING] 

CECILIA DELGADO: Part of my real name is Cecilia Moro. It's my last name of my father. So I'm born in Zacatecas, Mexico. So I'm very proud of living there. So whenever I have time, I go and visit my family, because my family is there. 

MRS. SANCHEZ: Talking about Cecilia is talking about persistence, because she was very, very persistent, very dedicated. 

CECILIA DELGADO: Since I came to California, I'm working hard. I'm thinking of my family. 

RICHARD KORZENIOWSKI: One thing I noticed about Cecilia is that she loves setting goals and achieving them. 

CECILIA DELGADO: I heard my bosses when I give you the meetings in the morning, and give us the information. Yeah? And I just see them, and I say, hmm, one day I'm going to be them in that time, when-- you know? But how? I don't speak any language. I don't speak any English. 

RICHARD KORZENIOWSKI: Cecilia has been an ESL student at Harbor Occupational Center for 20 years. And she first came here, and she didn't know any English. And by the time she got to my class, Cecilia, her English was speaking at a very advanced level. 

CECILIA DELGADO: It's hard not to work full-time, be a mother, be a wife, and go to school. 

RICHARD KORZENIOWSKI: She started at an elementary school when her son was in preschool. And by the time her son was in high school, she was still a student, part of our program, and she came back to Banning for-- it was a program for parents or kids who are preparing for college. 

MRS. SANCHEZ: I remember one time when she learned that her work schedule was going to change. And she didn't just stop coming to class. She asked for assistance. 

ALMA ALVAREZ: ESL students persist in learning English, being able to get a high school diploma, and also, a lot of times, it's not just a vocational training. It's a career. 

CECILIA DELGADO: I always try to do more than I had to do. I always try to learn new things, to learn more. If I have something, I don't want it to be still there. I want to learn more and more. 

RICHARD KORZENIOWSKI: Cecilia has this idea of, well, she got her citizenship. She learned English. She became housekeeping supervisor. Cecilia set a goal for herself that she wanted to translate and run the staff meetings at the hotel. And now Cecilia does that. And now Cecilia wants to be a hotel manager. So I think that's what I really admire about her. 

CECILIA DELGADO: One day I'm going to be in that position. One day I'm going to be a manager. 

RICHARD KORZENIOWSKI: Cecilia had worked herself up to assistant manager at her hotel, but when the pandemic hit, she got laid off because a lot of hotels cut back on their staff. So Cecilia lost her job, which was very difficult. However, in spite of this, Cecilia did not give up. 

CECILIA DELGADO: During the pandemic, I dedicated to my English-- yes, to study in my class. I took one computer class, and there was this English. I took my Zoom class every day. And first of all, I don't understand pandemic, but ended, I say, thanks, because thanks to that, I finished my English classes. 

ALMA ALVAREZ: Cecilia, it's a great example. You know, she started from level one. She persisted, even though, you know, work was a challenge. She was a housekeeper. And then she continued persisting, learning the language. And we are very proud of her. She's now working at a hotel and as an assistant manager, and her goal is to become a manager. 

CECILIA DELGADO: At our school, I completed my citizenship. I completed a computer class. I completed my ESL. And my next step is to have my GED. 

MRS. SANCHEZ: I'm very, very proud of Cecilia, and very happy she's getting this special award, because she really deserves it. 

CECILIA DELGADO: Thanks to the school to have those programs that help us, you know, many people. 

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