[JAZZ MUSIC] NARRATOR: Reynaldo Espinosa spoke no English when he came to this country from Nicaragua. Through adult education, he gained the skills needed to enter the workforce. He then returned to his former school as an instructional assistant, to help others to learn English and better their lives. 

VITTORIA ABBATE-MAGHSOUDI: Reynaldo has been a student with us for many years. Long before I came here, Reynaldo, actually started his English education here. He came to the United States from Nicaragua not knowing any English, and had a real need in order to get a job and raising a daughter, to help support her in school and with her homework. And so he's been very committed to really making this a priority in his life. 

REYNALDO ESPINOSA: So when I came to this country, one of the main obstacles was to communicate with people, because of the language barrier. I enrolled in this school in the morning and the afternoon classes and in the evening. So a month later, I was ready to go to the-- to join the workforce in this country. 

I had a friend and he introduced me to one of the owner of a pastry shop in Antioch. So I went over there, and he got an interview with me, and I got the job. So in that way I ended up doing cakes, things that I never thought that I was going to do in my country. 

When I was at home, I was thinking about this school. So I came over here, and I was as a volunteer for almost a year, because I was feeling like I owe something to this school. And I see all the students that they were having the same problem that I had before. So I just want to help them. So I stayed for almost a year and a half as a volunteer, every single night helping these guys, like somebody else help me before. 

VITTORIA ABBATE-MAGHSOUDI: He was already doing some things for us here and there and giving us some help, as I mentioned in the classroom. So we decided to encourage him to apply for the position, and he did. And he became a senior instructional assistant. 

REYNALDO ESPINOSA: But then was an opening for the [INAUDIBLE] aid, so I decided to take the job. And I'm here helping almost two years. The same teacher that used to teach me English-- there is a couple of them that recognize me when I was a student. And now I with them, helping the other students. 

VITTORIA ABBATE-MAGHSOUDI: We have seen Reynaldo grow in his ability. And his willingness to try new things and really support students in the classroom has been just phenomenal. The students love him. The teachers love him. 

We have teachers who really don't want to work in our Learning Center unless they know Reynaldo is there. So I think that really says a lot about his following already. He's really been a model to the students. When they see him working with technology, they all get the feeling, well, if Reynaldo is really doing this well, I can do it. He's going to show me how. 

REYNALDO ESPINOSA: Well, one of my main goal was to go to the university and get a bachelor degree in computer science. But I still had this same dream, one day have my degrees. But if I can have a scholarship-- someone can look at this video and send me some money-- I will quit my job and go back to classes and do something. 

I do it as a personal goals, not because I want to make more money. I wish I can have the certificate or the diploma with me and say to myself that I did it, that I succeed in my life. 

I'm a living proof that things can be done when you set your goals. There is no excuses when you want to learn. If you want to be in the path that you want to succeed, you're going to do it. So [INAUDIBLE] of the effort and sacrifices at the end takes in [INAUDIBLE] it's going to pay better. If you learn English and you succeed in this country, your life is going to change, is going to be better for themself, for their family.