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Rocio Ayala will graduate from the University of Idaho in just a few weeks with a master’s degree in counseling and human services. And although she has many people to thank for helping her along the way, she is most grateful to her mother.

“It’s because of my mom that I’m here,” Ayala says. “She gave everything up for me. She had a good steady job in Mexico, but came to the U.S. so I could get an education. To me, that means so much. A lot of what I do is because of her.”

Ayala’s passion for helping people was influenced by those who have helped her. She moved to Plano, Texas, from Mexico when she was 12 years old, and had to learn English. “There were two teachers who, if it hadn’t been for them, I wouldn’t be here,” says Ayala. “It was a very difficult transition. These two teachers stuck by me, helped me accommodate and make that shift from the life I was used to in Mexico, to being in a whole different country with people I didn’t know.”

Ayala and her mom eventually moved to Jerome, where Ayala became active in multicultural events in high school. She enjoys being active and networking and has always been involved in several activities at a time. She planned to attend college after high school at the College of Southern Idaho, and admits she never even knew the University of Idaho existed until she attended Vandal Friday through the Organización de Estudiantes Latino Americanos (OELA) club.

“We stayed on campus in the dorms, did workshops and tours,” she recalls. “I filled out an application and decided to come here.”

Ayala studied criminal justice and double minored in sociology and Spanish. “When I was in high school, a lot of my friends would get into trouble, so I wanted to do something to help them by studying criminal justice,” she laughs. “Exploring what goes on in criminals’ minds and their purpose for doing things was always interesting to me.”

After she graduated with a bachelor's degree in 2005, Ayala worked in the College Assistance Migrant Program (CAMP) on campus. As an undergraduate student, she had been a CAMP student. After working there for a time, she began thinking of a graduate program, so went to her adviser for help. “He asked me what I wanted to do, and I said I wanted to help people,” she says. He recommended she speak with Jerome Fischer, a professor in the Counseling and School Psychology program. After meeting with him, she was hooked.

Ayala admits the program isn’t for everybody because a counseling program teaches a person a lot about themselves and how they’re put together. “You need to get counseling yourself to be in this program,” Ayala says. “And you better believe I get help to deal with those things. You have to take care of yourself or you’ll burn out quick”

Graduate school has changed Ayala’s life. “I’m still Crazy Rosie to my friends at home, but I’ve matured a lot for the better. I’m still a crazy Mexican—I’m proud of where I came from and who I am. But I know I’m just beginning, so I try to calm myself down and tell me I have a whole lifetime to learn,” she said.

She is sending out job applications to the Boise area and has many plans. “There are so many things you can do with this field. I want to do prevention work, and work with minorities and at-risk populations. I don’t want to sit in an office all day long. I want to start programs and activities to help people. My philosophy is, if you don’t have passion for what you’re doing—don’t do it! If you don’t care about what you’re doing, it shows. It feels good to be starting my professional life and to have people look up to me and ask me for advice.”

In spite of all she’s accomplished, Rocio has one more wish. “I will never be able to repay my mom for all she’s done for me. I want to pay her back—not that she’s asking. My college degrees are the beginning of my paying her back. I hope that she finds a reward in leaving everything behind.”