Toro triumphs over setbacks to chase nursing career
San Jacinto College student Ana Toro's journey from Ecuador to the U.S. shows perseverance in the face of adversity. After earning two degrees from the College, she plans to pursue nursing next spring.
In a country that faced political and economic challenges, Toro and her family were forced to leave their home to seek a better life in the U.S.
"My family always valued education very highly. It played an important role in our lives," Toro said. "This guided me to find better opportunities in the United States, especially for my children."
Upon arriving in the U.S. eight years ago, Toro faced numerous challenges, the first of which was learning English. Despite studying English in Ecuador, she needed further instruction to adapt to her new environment. For two years, she committed herself to mastering the language.
Toro's aspirations continued beyond learning English. Although she studied psychology in Ecuador, she always dreamed of working in medicine. When she came to the U.S., she was determined to become a nurse. This meant starting from scratch, taking prerequisite courses and exams, and navigating the complexities of the American education system.
Her journey has been supported by San Jac’s international student support office, which guided her through the challenges of being an international student.
"I call the staff there my angels because they have helped me so much," she said. "Even though some of them have moved on to different roles, I keep in touch with them for advice or a friendly conversation. It was a blessing to find this college and such supportive people."
In the depth of her studies and amid the COVID-19 pandemic, she was surprised to find herself pregnant, adding the challenge of caring for a newborn to her already full plate. Despite this, she remained determined, even feeding her infant son during online exams to continue her education.
"Everything changing to online learning was a blessing in disguise for my family," she said. "I could be home with my baby and older son and do my schoolwork too."
With credits accrued through her studies since 2018, Toro earned a life science degree in 2022 and an Associate of Arts degree in 2023.
"I earned these two degrees, but I was still determined to be a nurse," she said. "I took the HESI [Health Education Systems Incorporated] exam, passed it, and applied to nursing school. When I was accepted, I was so happy."
Her journey took an unexpected turn when she separated from her husband in spring 2024. The emotional and financial toll was significant, forcing her to withdraw from nursing school, but Toro hasn't given up. Instead, she sees this as a temporary setback, not the end of her dream.
"It was tough for me because I had put in years of effort into reaching this point," Toro said. "Coming from a country where it's tough for women to have better opportunities, it was a significant achievement."
With the support of her two sons and a scholarship, she is determined to reapply to nursing school in spring 2025, fully intent on achieving her goal. As she reflects on how far she's come, her oldest son's words, "Mom, you're really doing this," remind her of the example she's setting for her children — showing them that no matter the challenges, you can achieve your dreams.
"The U.S. has given me new opportunities and a new perspective on my life," she said. "I never thought I could achieve these things when I was in my home country. Here, I realized how much I want to be a professional, to have my own job, financial independence, and stability. San Jacinto College helped me with these goals, and I am determined to keep going."
