Advocating for others provides fulfilling career

By Rebecca Bell

In 2001, when Judith Mendoza was 12 years old, she moved to Midland from La Ciudad de Chihuahua, Mexico. "I felt isolated and alone because I didn't know a word of English. So I made an effort to understand English as fast as I could," she states. "Now, I have made it my life's mission to help others who may have feelings of isolation and loneliness."

Today, the once shy Mexican immigrant and 2006 Midland High School graduate has become a competent young woman speaking beautiful English and working as senior services program assistant for Casa de Amigos in Midland. One of Mendoza's primary responsibilities is ensuring that her clients are able to deal with the routine bureaucracies that senior citizens face on a daily basis. "I don't want them to feel like they are isolated from the rest of society and can't get the services they need," she explains.

Mendoza says that she has always wanted to help others; however, it wasn't until she was a student at Midland College (MC) from 2006-2008 that she became interested in social work. She credits Assistant Professor of Psychology and Sociology David Edens with helping her to realize that a career in social services was the right choice. She says, "Mr. Edens, like all my other professors at MC, would allow me to ask questions. I felt like I was always welcome to go into any professor's office to seek advice or get help."

Mendoza obtained an Associate degree in general studies in 2008 and transferred to the University of Texas of the Permian Basin (UTPB), where she graduate summa cum laude and obtained a Bachelor of Social Work degree in 2010. Then, she immediately started an accelerated Master's degree program at Abilene Christian University (ACU) and graduated in May of 2011. During her last semester at ACU, she got a call from Lael Cordes-Pitts, the former executive director of Casa de Amigos, inquiring if she would be interested in a position with the organization.

"I had been at Casa as an intern while I was working toward my Bachelor's degree," explains Mendoza. "I'm so glad that a full-time position opened just as I was graduating. It's a great place to work, and it's a place where I feel like I am contributing to the Midland community."

Mendoza spends much of her time advocating for her senior citizen clients, many of whome have limited English proficiency. She states, "I help them understand and deal with Medicare, utility companies, social security administration, home health agencies and other challenges that seniors must face on a daily basis. One of the things I like about my job is that I have the opportunity to build relationships with my clients and can see how my advocacy helps to make a difference in their lives. Before graduating with my Master's degree, I completed another internship at a behavioral therapy center. I worked with the patients for about a week while they were in the center, and then they went home. I wasn't able to get to know them, like I am able to do with Casa's clients."

Mendoza also enjoys the social aspect that Casa de Amigos brings to senior citizens. She helps plan activities and says, "We have our regulars who show up every day. A lot of these people live by themselves, and the social interaction that Casa provides is so important for older people."

Mendoza explains, "I'm just doing for my seniors what others have done for me." Being a first-generation-to-college student, Mendoza says that MC staff helped her to cope with college life: "I didn't know anything about going to college, obtaining financial aid or choosing the right classes to take. Student Support Services staff at Midland College, especially Isabel Jimenez, really helped me while I was attending MC. When I got ready to transfer to UTPB, Isabel actually went to UTPB with me and introduced me to people in the admissions department."

Mendoza continues to reflect upon her college experiences and says, "During my freshman year at Midland College, I had to get used to the idea of studying, and I had to make some sacrifices–both financially and socially–but it was definitely worth it. I tell people that you have to look at 'the big picture.' There will be a time when you will definitely need some higher education. If you want to progress in life, you need to go to college, even if that means making some temporary sacrifices."

Mendoza says that she wants to continue to live and work in Midland and be an advocate for others. She hopes to have a long, successful career in social work and looks at her goals realistically. She says, "I've gotten the degrees; now I am working on the experience. Degrees plus experience is what makes a person marketable in a career."