By LISA BACKUS, Special to the Herald

NEW BRITAIN -- When Marilyn Ramos signed up her two middle school-age daughters to participate in a unique Math Club that hones skills in a nontraditional way, she didn’t know that it would lead her back to school herself.

"The first math class, Dr. Baratta told me about a program that would start in January that would get you ready to go back to college," the 35-year-old Ramos recalled. "It was about getting involved in social work, which is what I want to do. Dr. Baratta encouraged me and inspired me. I signed up as soon as I could."

Ramos is now a student with the "Comenzamos," which means Let’s Begin, program, a class offered each semester for Latinas and Latinos through a collaborative effort between Central Connecticut State University, St. Joseph College and Capital Community College.

Each Saturday for 15 weeks, Ramos attends an Introduction to Social Work class that not only provides the basics of the field but prepares students for the more strenuous work involved in attending college.

During the semester, students in the class are paired with mentors from the field of social work to complete requirements such as job shadowing and an oral history of their mentor’s life.

Ramos credits Dr. Catherine Baratta, an associate professor in the Department of Social Work at CCSU, for encouraging her to go back to school in a field she loves.

"She is my inspiration, if it wasn’t for her, I wouldn’t be thinking about going back to school," Ramos said. "It hard but I love it. I plan on taking a class this summer and then more classes in the fall. I’m definitely going to get my bachelor’s degree."

Ramos met Baratta through the "Central & The City" initiative sponsored by the university and New Britain’s Weed & Seed program. As an adviser to The Math Club, a once a month club that meets at CCSU for New Britain middle school and high school students, Barratta knew Ramos just needed that one push in the right direction to head to school.

"It was a perfect opportunity for her and she knew she would get support," Baratta said. "Once she takes the prerequisites for what she needs, she’ll be able to hit the ground running when it comes to get her degree."

On a typical day, Ramos said she gets up at 6 a.m. to prepare dinner and get daughters Luz and Jailene Diaz off to school. Then she heads to her job as an employment specialist at the Human Resource Agency.

Once the kids are in bed, she hits the books and prepares for next week’s lesson.

"It’s hard, I mean right now I’m only taking one class and I have to find time for homework," Ramos admitted. "But I’m going to cut back on the volunteer things I do so that in fall I can concentrate on school."

In addition to the pride of working to fulfill her dreams, Ramos said the class has had some interesting by-products, including inspiring her daughters to seek higher education as well.

Both children said their mother’s trip back to school has had an impact on what type of education they will seek in the future.

"Because I see that she’s getting better at it and she likes it, it makes me want to go to college when I’m older too," said 11-year-old Jailene.

"She wants to go somewhere in life and the best way to do that is to get educated," said 13-year-old Luz.

But Ramos said one of the most exciting benefits has been her ability to show her clients, who often haven’t sought a high school diploma that a future is their’s for the taking.

"There are a lot of people out there who haven’t finished school and I would tell them, ‘look, I’m starting school on Saturday,’," Ramos said.

"I made it a really big deal, and I tell them they can do it too. There are options out there, and I try to encourage them, sometimes, all anybody needs is that one little push."

©The Herald 2005

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