Family tragedies and job loss did not stop Marilyn Torres

Marilyn Torres, a non-traditional student at HFC, fought hard to achieve her goal of getting a college education.

She is proud and relieved that she graduated in May, earning her associate degree in business administration.

“I did it,” said Torres, of Wayne. “I made it through.”

Against all odds

Torres almost did not make it through. The odds were stacked against her from the beginning.

When Torres, a single mom of six and grandmother of seven, enrolled at HFC in 2016, her grandmother died. When she found her footing after that loss, her 17-year-old daughter Chyna was badly wounded by a gunman while visiting family in New Jersey in the summer of 2017.

Chyna was in a coma for three weeks. When she was healthy enough to travel back to Michigan, doctors discovered she had a pulmonary embolism, which had to be removed, and she was placed in a medically-induced coma.

Torres – who was taking four classes when the shooting occurred – had to take the 2017-18 academic year off in order to help nurse Chyna back to health. Today, Chyna is doing better physically but still struggles. Now 21, Chyna is working on COVID-10 screenings.

“I’m so grateful and blessed,” said Torres.

“If I can fight, you can fight”

Chyna was the catalyst for Torres to return to HFC when she wanted to quit.

“I wanted to give up. I really did,” said Torres. “Chyna actually encouraged me to go back. She said, ‘If I can fight, you can fight.’ That’s when it really hit me. She’s a fighter, so am I. I can get through this.”

Torres reenrolled for the 2019-20 academic year at HFC. Her instructors gave her incompletes for the four classes she was taking when Chyna was shot, and she successfully completed all four courses.

Torres had other obstacles to overcome, including losing her receptionist job at Assembly Media in Southfield during the early days of the coronavirus pandemic, and losing her financial aid.

But she remained determined to complete her degree.

Essential faculty support

“Friends and family helped me with tuition this semester so I could graduate,” she said. “The professors were very supportive as well.”

Torres said HFC Spanish professor Kyle Melton went above and beyond the call of duty.

“He would check in with me and see how I was doing even after I was no longer in his class,” she said. “His support made a big difference.”

“I had a great rapport with Marilyn when she took my Spanish 131 class because we were so much closer in age than the rest of the class. She often was the only one to get my jokes!” said Melton. “She was so enthusiastic, but she missed a lot of class early on due to her familial issues. She really struggled with attendance and keeping up. But I always inform my students to let me know when things arise, and we can work things out.”

He continued: “No matter how hard things were for her, she always managed to smile and be happy in my class and gather her resolve to catch up and get things done. Knowing the enormity of these things, I applauded her efforts. Because she responded, it was easy to work with her. I never want any of my students to fail if there's something I can do about it. She always made me feel good about myself too when I saw that she could cut through the adverse aspects of her life to do what she needed to do for school. I am so happy and proud that she is graduating!”

A future in foster care

Upon graduation from HFC, Torres plans to transfer to a four-year university. She plans to study social work and would like to work in the foster care system.

“I feel strongly about foster care,” she said. “This is something I can see myself doing. Children need homes to provide a nurturing and caring environment. Foster parents can’t just be in it for the check. Many of them aren’t preparing these kids for the real world after they grow up.”

Looking back on her time at HFC, Torres still can’t believe she made it through. On top of the extenuating circumstances she’s faced, she’s also had to babysit her grandchildren and help them with their online schooling during the pandemic on top of her own.

“I’m glad I succeeded. It was touch-and-go there for a time. It feels good. It’s also a sigh of relief,” she said, laughing. “It’s been a hard experience, that’s for sure. It’s also been a great one.”