Francisco Cuellar will graduate this spring with a degree in psychology despite insurmountable odds.
Born in Albuquerque, the father of three has been hit by a car, served a lengthy stay in prison and been shot in the head.
Cuellar, who was orphaned at a young age, said he never thought he would see this day after making some bad choices early in life.
“I ended up on the wrong side of the law, ended up doing a little time,” Cuellar said.
13 years of time, to be exact. Cuellar said that, while in jail, he realized that those incarcerated have massive potential but are devoid of hope.
“Most of them are decent individuals that just were misguided. If they had this opportunity, they would take full advantage of it,” he said. “It’s called the department of corrections, but it's not. It’s just storage.”
Cuellar’s first son, who is now graduating from CNM, was born while he was in jail and was his driving motivation to make a better life for himself and his family once he got out.
“I was away from him the first 12 years of his life. I knew I had to get it together. As soon as I could, I got started taking classes in there,” he said.
However, Cuellar said he did not want to earn a degree in jail as the classes offered were not well constructed or maintained. Instead, he was determined to graduate from a institution outside of jail when he was released.
“So I did, I got out and went to CNM," he said.
Cuellar attended CNM, working to get an impressive four degrees, and decided to transfer to UNM in the spring of 2014 after being misdirected by his advisors at CNM .
Under poor advisement, Cuellar said he took unnecessary classes at CNM.
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“I got sidetracked. They told me I need this math, that math, this math,” Cuellar said.
The wasted time did not deter his spirit and, in the end, he will graduate from UNM with a whopping 153 college credits.
Aside from better advisement, Cuellar said he simply enjoyed his experience more at UNM.
“The courses here seem more straightforward, more to the point, and I got better grades here than I did at CNM,” he said.
Cuellar said a lot of that stems from better teaching methods as well as class material being presented in a more professional manner.
“At CNM it's more casual,” he said. “Sometimes teachers bend the rules over there to make sure the whole class goes by.”
Cuellar, who is turning 40 soon after he graduates, said it’s about time.
“It feels amazing. I mean, when I do think about it, after all I’ve been through with my life,” he said. “I should’ve graduated a long time ago, I’m a pretty intelligent individual.”
Cuellar said his first experience at the University is a memory he now looks back on fondly.
When he was a kid, he said he went to a class in Woodrow Hall with his cousin- also a student - and knew he wanted to attend UNM one day.
“I was like, ‘yeah, I want to do this,’ and eventually I did. I just wish it would’ve been a lot sooner,” he said.
Now that he is graduating, Cuellar said his work has only just begun.
Cuellar’s brother recently passed away and his brother’s children are now orphaned, so Cuellar is stepping in to help, as he wishes someone would’ve done for him.
“Now I’m going to try to change the cycle. Make sure his kids don’t end up like we did,” he said. “To help them with direction in their life, help them get here.”
It doesn’t stop at family though, as Cuellar plans to come back to UNM for his Master's in the counseling program and help others who have had a rough go at life as he did.
Cuellar said he one day hopes to start a nonprofit directed at helping at-risk youth in New Mexico; one that prioritizes the well-being of orphans and eventually expands across the country.
“If I can only help one adolescent, you know, prevent (them from) making the mistakes I did,” he said. “Just one and I’ll consider it a success.”
Cuellar said a lack of opportunities and outlets for at-risk youth keep them in their situation.
“Life can be hard for kids that don’t have direction (or), you know, parents. I think the system is failing them,” he said. “There’s nothing for kids to do here. There’s nothing positive.”
Cuellar advises those like him, who may not believe in themselves, to never give up.
“Put your best foot forward and make the effort. Education is where it’s at; without an education you’ll stay in your current situation in life,” he said. “You’ll never propel yourself forward. Because I never thought I’d be here, not after everything I’ve been through.”
Matthew Reisen is the news editor for the Daily Lobo. He can be reached at news@dailylobo.com or on Twitter @DailyLobo.
