Mother, daughter duo gear up for fall semester

As Teresa Garcia walked down the aisles lined with books, she admitted she was nervous.

Garcia had just attended the first day of class for the fall semester Monday at Clovis Community College. Garcia, 38, said she is at the beginning of the nursing program and she needed her books.

“I like to care for people in need,” she said. “I was enjoying my summer but now that I’ve been to class I’m getting nervous.”

Fellow nursing student Joy Barrera sat at one of the tables at the food court area with her mother Jan Green. Both were waiting for their next class. Green is taking the prerequisite classes for the nursing program and her daughter is about to finish.

Barrera, a Texico mother of five, said it felt like summer flew by.

“Summer went fast, but it’s my last semester so I was ready to get back into it and get it done,” Barrera said.

She said that her family has helped her balance taking care of five children and studying nursing.

“I work around (my children’s) schedules. Mine is more night. I’ve been cutting back on sleep for three years and my sisters, mom and dad help me a lot,” she said.

Green, 53, said she’s wanted to be a nurse since she was a little girl but was married and raised four children before she was able to study for her dream job.

“I decided to raise the kids first. Then I worked at a hospital for five years and realized I still wanted to be a nurse,” Green said.

Both said that the nursing program is demanding.

“It’s a long four years,” Barrera said. “I’m ready to see the light at the end of the tunnel.”

CCC officials declined to provide preliminary enrollment numbers.

Important dates:

• Aug. 25-29 - Late registration

• Aug. 29 - Add and drop deadline

• Nov. 14 - Last day to withdraw

Register online or view a catalog of classes offered at Clovis Community College at www.clovis.edu