In May 2015, Lisa-Mae Hewer and Roberto Rubio Lopez were the proud recipients of their high school diplomas. Their main source of inspiration? Their ten children.
After two years of full-time schooling, Lisa-Mae Hewer and her husband, Roberto Rubio Lopez successfully completed their high school diplomas at the Huntingdon Adult Education and Community Centre (HAECC) in 2015. The journey wasn’t an easy one for the couple—Lopez found that he had to work up the courage to simply enter the HAECC in Huntingdon. It took several trips, and many hours of contemplation while sitting in the parking lot before building up the confidence to enter the school—with his wife and family in tow. As soon as they entered the building, they were made to feel at home— a factor that played a big part in helping the couple to stay focused during the duration of their studies. HAECC’s Centre Director Daryl Ness was impressed with the couple’s scholarly efforts, stating, “Roberto proved that determination, hard work, a positive attitude and perseverance can really pay off – and it is never too late to start!”
What is more surprising is that together, the couple has ten children—only one of whom is over the age of eighteen. Lopez, who is originally from Mexico, moved to Montreal when he was 24 years old. A year later, he met Nova Scotia native Hewer. The two fell in love and moved to Franklin, where they now reside with their children. The couple have very little outside help—and no close family that resides nearby.
Lopez’s story is not what you might expect—the 36 year old actually completed a Bachelor of Arts in Mexico, only to have his achievements lost to politics and paperwork. In a new country, he worked to find a way to complete his education. His main motivation? His family. The same was true for Hewer. “We wanted to set an example for our children,” says Hewer of the experience. “Our son dropped out of school, and I couldn’t battle him on it because I didn’t have an education.” The whole experience was a monumental source of motivation for both parents, who entered the adult education program in Huntingdon in September 2013.
Today, Hewer is enrolled in a secretarial program at the NOVA Career Centre in Chateauguay, where she attends classes five days a week. Following the completion of her studies, she plans to study Theology, in the hopes of one day becoming a pastor. In September, Lopez starts a yearlong program at John Abbott College in Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, where he will be studying Internet programming full-time. Managing such a busy schedule will not be easy for the couple, but Hewer and Lopez are confident that they can reach the goals that they have set for themselves if they work as a team.
When asked about best part of his educational experience, Lopez had some uplifting words to share. “The greatest satisfaction I get from this achievement is to be an example for my kids. I have the opportunity to show them that the good desires from our hearts can be accomplished, that goals do not come without obstacles, that failure is a part of life. And I have an opportunity to begin again. Failure is learning, changing and growing, it is an opportunity to be successful. It is the opportunity to find ourselves.”
