Working Mom Overcomes Barriers to Focus on Earning Her Degree
“Never give up!”
Deborah Cadena
Those three words have defined Debora Cadena’s life since she moved to the United States from Mexico in 2003. Since then, she has faced some significant hurdles as she enters her senior year as a general business student at the Fowler College of Business at San Diego State University.
In addition to attending SDSU, Cadena, a 40-something married mother of two, has worked full-time at Barona Casino & Resort for the past 14 years. Currently, she is an assistant manager for the table games department where she oversees the daily operations of the table games, keeps her eye on card counters, trains the staff, resolves any issues that may arise among customers and staff, and generally assures that the objectives of the company and department are met. She also cares for her 17-year-old daughter who has cerebral palsy.
While her personal and professional life keep her extremely busy, she is determined to complete the journey toward her bachelor’s degree in the spring of 2022. And what a journey it has been.
In spite of some significant challenges, Debora Cadena plans to graduate with her general business degree in the spring of 2022
Cadena first became interested in business when she established a successful retail operation at the age of 12 in her hometown of Tijuana, Mexico. “At one point, I was making more money than my father,” she said. “Moreover, I love the interactions with people, helping employees, and impacting the lives of others in a positive manner.”
As she grew older, Cadena began attending college in Mexico, however, her move to the U.S. and the premature birth of her daughter (23 weeks) forced her to put school on hold for nearly a decade. “I have always loved to study, and I promised myself and my kids that I would never give up until I finished my degree,” she said. “Since I didn’t speak English when I first came to the U.S., I started my educational journey in this country at Grossmont College in 2010 by taking English as a second language (ESL) classes.”
Five years after she began taking classes at Grossmont, she earned her first associate’s degree in international business in 2018. The following year, she earned two more associates’ degrees, one in economics and one in business. In the fall of 2020, she transferred her credits to SDSU, when she began the attending the Fowler College of Business’ to earn her general business degree.
With Cadena’s busy schedule, her study time is limited, but she makes the time to do homework as she faces her biggest hurdle of all. “I am a transplanted kidney patient in stage 5 kidney failure and I’m waiting for another transplant,” said Cadena who currently undergoes regular kidney dialysis as needed while she waits for a donor. “I try to do my homework and study at any time possible including during my dialysis, my lunch breaks and during my daughter’s medical treatments. It’s important to me to earn my degree to make the point to my 24-year-old son that studying is the key to success and that opportunities are there for those who are willing to put in the work to take advantage of them.”
Even though life gets challenging, Cadena is fully focused on getting her bachelor’s degree and pursuing her dreams. “It is difficult at times, but my mother taught me to never stop until I’ve accomplished what I want,” she said. “After graduation, I would like to secure a a position that improves my life and that of my loved ones, and perhaps in the near future, I’d like to have the opportunity to become a successful business owner.”
To other working parents who are currently SDSU students, Cadena offers this advice: “Never give up! Even when you feel tired and feel like you want to give up, don’t do it! It’s a big sacrifice, but by getting your degree, you are impacting the lives of others — especially the people that you love — while you are improving yourself. Take advantage of opportunities and don't let them pass you by.”
