For Deming resident Sandra Varela, graduating during the Western New Mexico University (WNMU) Spring Commencement in May marks the finish line of a journey involving immense sacrifice and an iron will to keep hope alive. Accepting her Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood and Family Support, Varela will do so beside her deepest sources of courage: her daughter, Valerie Varela, and her son, Julio Varela, sharing the moment as a family forged by resilience.
Varela’s journey was forged through life’s grueling trials. Her story as a WNMU Mustang is one of persistent strength, beginning in the shadow of a challenging marriage and an exceptionally difficult divorce process. Throughout those years, Varela dedicated herself to her children’s well-being, often setting her own aspirations aside to put her children first as she navigated the complexities of single parenthood.
The decision to return to college was born from a fierce desire to reclaim her narrative and provide a visible roadmap for her children’s futures. In the wake of her divorce, while facing intense financial strain and emotional exhaustion, Varela was confronted with words meant to diminish her spirit, “You are not going to do anything in your life, and you are nothing without me.” Those words stayed in her mind, but rather than breaking her, she turned them into a personal challenge. She decided to prove that her worth was not defined by another’s estimation, but by her own determination to succeed.
The academic journey that followed was far from easy. Sandra faced significant health hurdles, managing a seizure disorder alongside the invisible but heavy burdens of depression and anxiety. Despite these persistent challenges, she committed to her education “little by little,” often taking only one or two classes per semester to balance her rigorous coursework with her responsibilities at home. This deliberate pace allowed her to remain a present, supportive role model for her children while she slowly but surely pursued her calling as an early childhood educator.
“My time at WNMU has been about sacrifice and stubborn hope,” Varela shared. “Raising my children while enduring so much hardship, I tried to give them guidance and love, especially when times were darkest. Going back to my courses after the divorce was my way of showing them what it means to fight.”
Varela’s choice of major—Early Childhood and Family Support—is a direct reflection of her life’s work. Having spent years advocating for her own family and navigating the intricacies of child development as a devoted parent, Varela is uniquely prepared to support other families in the Silver City community. Varela’s degree is more than a professional credential; it is a formal extension of the empathy, patience, and resilience she has practiced every day within her own household.
As the Varela family prepares for graduation day, they stand as a powerful symbol of the “Mustang Way”—a community where persistence is rewarded, and family is a foundational strength.