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Immigrant Wants To Be Role Model

Luis Padilla walks in the procession of graduates Sunday afternoon.
Photo by Mike Eberly

By Melvin Mason, Daily News-Record

Luis Padilla had a glow of success on Sunday.

With hard work, prudent savings and a little help, Padilla, 40, earned a bachelor’s degree from Eastern Mennonite University on Sunday. It’s a goal he’s sought for a long time and he hopes his story can be inspiration for people wanting to make it in America.

Here For Opportunity

Padilla came to the United States from Honduras in 1997 to pursue his education. He said he had to leave his home country to seek opportunities that were unavailable in Honduras because his family was poor.

Padilla lived in New York City for about three years, working and carefully budgeting his money. He later moved to Pennsylvania and worked for an apple cider company.

The whole time Padilla worked, he said he carefully budgeted his money. He lived frugally and sent money home to his family in Honduras. The rest was saved to help pay for his higher education.

"That was one of my goals, my dreams, to have an education," he said. "I have to spend [money] on what I really need. I didn’t go out and go crazy."

He started college in 2002, attending Hesston College in Kansas, a 2-year Mennonite school. The Plains Mennonite Church in Pennsylvania offered him some financial support, he said, something he’s thankful for.

Two years later, Padilla arrived in Harrisonburg to attend EMU. While in school, he continued to work full-time at Valley Waterproofing.

Wants To Work In Real Estate

Padilla says he wants to be an example to immigrants to show them that working hard and learning English can lead to success.

"I am where I am because I speak the language. I wouldn’t have graduated if I didn’t learn the language," he said.

The day was long in coming, according to Sharla Padilla, 39, Luis’ wife of more than three years.

"I’m glad that part is over. He has worked hard and I’ve seen it," she said.

Padilla isn’t stopping with just one degree. He plans to stay at EMU for a master’s. Eventually, he wants to pursue a career in real estate.

"Someone said to me ‘Now you can relax and sit down,’" he said. "[But] I can’ t relax and sit down."

— article by: Melvin Mason, Daily News-Record; posted May 1, 2006