PATHWAYS to SUCCESS Arts & Humanities A found family Brasott Garde of products following the renovation of Ro Grande Hall me more. He pushed me to be there and stay there until it was finally done he recalled " didat was in shock when I passed the math test. It gave me a sense of pride I never felt before Juan Juarez, 42, who was hired last December as a UN-aos academic advisor. is living a life he never dreamed possible He's eager to start helping current and prospective students get the most out of their lives-especially for young people who find themselves under the weight of questions such as "What am I doing? "Where am I going? "Who do I want to be? When it comes to exiting a dark, uncertain road and taking a positive e-changing course, Juare knows what he is talking about Juare's hard work had not gone unnoticed Former IT Services Manager Dave Sooter and Nikki Maes, then-systems network analyst trained Juarez to serve as IT tech support. 1 proved my work ethic and pushed myself to be on top of my job at all times. Juarez said After passing the math test, he visited the advisor Miriam Foronda to tell her about getting his High School Equivalency. She congratulated him, but then started clacking at her computer keyboard A few minutes later she stopped, looked up and said. "You're going to college while working in IT support, the thought crossed Juarez's mind that his life experiences may be of value to young people who might feel lost like he did. He interviewed for a position as a UNM-Taos academic advisor. The rest is soon to be history He was born in Salt Lake City Utah Though he grew up in Riverside, California in true Golden State fashion, Juarez wanted to be a surfer when he was a little kid Getting in a lot of trouble started for Juarez at age 16 After repeating four years of 9th grade, he gave up and dropped out. I didn't care about education. I didn't think I could make a good de for myself," he admits "I did it. I was in shock when I passed the math test. It gave. me a sense of pride I never felt before." Since December 2021, Juarez has been delving into the training process-just one more advisors training left to go in May His days of helping students can't start fast enough Tm really anxious to be where I need to be, to help the students," he said "When I was 24, I got fed up with the court system, being on probation with the path in general And I didn't want to climb the gang hierarchy in prison," he said. A new direction was on his mind There's already a waiting list of young people he knows who want him to help them change their lives through higher education "The entire advising department is very supportive," he added. Tm hoping start advising this summer One day he looked in a mirror-not metaphorically and didn't like what he saw an a moment of clarity, he decided, "OK, let's move" and moved to as to make a change "was shocked. I thought, oh man, I didn't plan on doing any of this Foronda had enrolled him at UN-Taos. This is where it all began always had a good experience here Juarez said. "No one treated me bad. I always got the support I needed Juarez laid low in his new home-wanting no trouble. His mother drove him to Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish where the High School Equivalency Program (HEP) was held, HEP was provided by Northern New Mexico College at that time. She dropped him off and drove Juarez still pinches himself thinking of where he was headed in his teens and 20s and where he is today. He credits the birth of his first son for saving his life: not for his birth Juarez, however wasn't done with school don't know where I'd be now He enrolled of UNM in Albuquerque where His family has since grown. He and his he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Art Studio infance have four kids-three boys and a girl December 2015. "I thought I might be an art instructor or work in a museum he said. None of them will have to live without a strong loving father figure Juarez now knows who he truly is what he needs to do to be successful and is confident in his many abilities And all of that, he kept repeating, is due to hard work and his positive experience at UN-Taos Juarez's employment efforts kept leading him back to UNM Taos because I always got the support I needed. After applying for various campus jobs, he was hired by former Senior Project/Construction Manager J Pollard to help with a large campus inventory For two years he worked hard and became close with instructor Frank Jaramillo the father figure and mentor Juarez never had could read and I could write, but Frank taught love school. I love UN-T This will always be my foundation-my home. 22 Accomplishments and honors A few photos of our amazing students. NM TA PATHWAYS to SUCCESS Arts & Humanities A found family Brasott Garde of products following the renovation of Ro Grande Hall me more . He pushed me to be there and stay there until it was finally done he recalled " didat was in shock when I passed the math test . It gave me a sense of pride I never felt before Juan Juarez , 42 , who was hired last December as a UN - aos academic advisor . is living a life he never dreamed possible He's eager to start helping current and prospective students get the most out of their lives - especially for young people who find themselves under the weight of questions such as " What am I doing ? " Where am I going ? " Who do I want to be ? When it comes to exiting a dark , uncertain road and taking a positive e - changing course , Juare knows what he is talking about Juare's hard work had not gone unnoticed Former IT Services Manager Dave Sooter and Nikki Maes , then - systems network analyst trained Juarez to serve as IT tech support . 1 proved my work ethic and pushed myself to be on top of my job at all times . Juarez said After passing the math test , he visited the advisor Miriam Foronda to tell her about getting his High School Equivalency . She congratulated him , but then started clacking at her computer keyboard A few minutes later she stopped , looked up and said . " You're going to college while working in IT support , the thought crossed Juarez's mind that his life experiences may be of value to young people who might feel lost like he did . He interviewed for a position as a UNM - Taos academic advisor . The rest is soon to be history He was born in Salt Lake City Utah Though he grew up in Riverside , California in true Golden State fashion , Juarez wanted to be a surfer when he was a little kid Getting in a lot of trouble started for Juarez at age 16 After repeating four years of 9th grade , he gave up and dropped out . I didn't care about education . I didn't think I could make a good de for myself , " he admits " I did it . I was in shock when I passed the math test . It gave . me a sense of pride I never felt before . " Since December 2021 , Juarez has been delving into the training process - just one more advisors training left to go in May His days of helping students can't start fast enough Tm really anxious to be where I need to be , to help the students , " he said " When I was 24 , I got fed up with the court system , being on probation with the path in general And I didn't want to climb the gang hierarchy in prison , " he said . A new direction was on his mind There's already a waiting list of young people he knows who want him to help them change their lives through higher education " The entire advising department is very supportive , " he added . Tm hoping start advising this summer One day he looked in a mirror - not metaphorically and didn't like what he saw an a moment of clarity , he decided , " OK , let's move " and moved to as to make a change " was shocked . I thought , oh man , I didn't plan on doing any of this Foronda had enrolled him at UN - Taos . This is where it all began always had a good experience here Juarez said . " No one treated me bad . I always got the support I needed Juarez laid low in his new home - wanting no trouble . His mother drove him to Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish where the High School Equivalency Program ( HEP ) was held , HEP was provided by Northern New Mexico College at that time . She dropped him off and drove Juarez still pinches himself thinking of where he was headed in his teens and 20s and where he is today . He credits the birth of his first son for saving his life : not for his birth Juarez , however wasn't done with school don't know where I'd be now He enrolled of UNM in Albuquerque where His family has since grown . He and his he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Art Studio infance have four kids - three boys and a girl December 2015. " I thought I might be an art instructor or work in a museum he said . None of them will have to live without a strong loving father figure Juarez now knows who he truly is what he needs to do to be successful and is confident in his many abilities And all of that , he kept repeating , is due to hard work and his positive experience at UN - Taos Juarez's employment efforts kept leading him back to UNM Taos because I always got the support I needed . After applying for various campus jobs , he was hired by former Senior Project / Construction Manager J Pollard to help with a large campus inventory For two years he worked hard and became close with instructor Frank Jaramillo the father figure and mentor Juarez never had could read and I could write , but Frank taught love school . I love UN - T This will always be my foundation - my home . 22 Accomplishments and honors A few photos of our amazing students . NM TA