SOUTH SIOUX CITY, Neb. – Lina Traslaviña Stover is a self-described “nerd” and runner, both of which have helped her to be successful.
“Math is my language,” she told a gathering of Latino high school students during a spring youth summit at Northeast Community College’s South Sioux City Extended Campus.
Stover, who is a sociologist, said she likes to ask questions. She also has earned a doctor of philosophy in sociology.
“That means I graduated from college three times,” she said, noting that she knows “how to get into college, stay in college and graduate from college.”
Originally from Colombia, Stover is the executive director of Heartland Workers Center in Omaha and credits being a nerd with helping her to be successful. She encouraged Latino students to consider college and delivered her message at the summit in both English and Spanish.
Everyone has stress in their lives. Running is one of the ways that Stover deals with stress, she said, and is something that she can do by herself.
“The race is against myself,” she said. “It’s the same thing with the decisions that you are going to make about your future. It’s not about where my boyfriend is going or where my girlfriend is going. The race is against yourself.”
All races begin with one step. It’s the same thing with life’s paths, she said. Stover asked how many of the students were going on to postsecondary education. About half the hands of the high school students went up.
“What’s your plan? Everyone needs a plan,” she said.
She asked the students to consider postsecondary education because there are benefits to getting degrees. Graduating from college three times has given her power and opportunities.
“Getting into college is probably the easiest part,” she said. “Staying in college and graduating from college isn’t. The race is with you. It has to be your goal.”
Stover said when she trains for a race, it is just her against herself. Her goal for distance running is to stay healthy during the training.
Whether it is a sore knee or getting an F on a test, injuries happen.
“Sometimes we have to take some time for ourselves,” she said. “Sometimes we have to ask for help.”
She told students not to compare themselves to others because there will always be someone who is faster or makes it seem effortless.
It’s also important to find someone to be a role model. They can provide motivation.
“The truth is in college like in running, you spend more time training than the actual outcome. Graduation is only one day. Enjoy the training,” Stover said.
For her, the one tactic that worked that helped her to graduate from college each time was to write down on a piece of paper, “People to hold me accountable for what matters.”
In the Latino community, there can be struggles to find someone, she said. Oftentimes, however, a teacher can help or serve as one of the people.
She also encouraged students to look at people “who have something you want.” Get to know them and find out how they were able to get what they have, Stover said.
And when going to college, there will be times when a person feels alone or that they “just want to cry.”
That’s when the person or people who hold you accountable can help. It also is OK to take a break from college, but make sure to work and earn money, then return, she said.
And for those who cannot afford college, Stover said there are many scholarships out there.
“My investment in time was real,” she said. “Out of 100 scholarships that you apply, 99 of them might be no. Keep applying.”
Plus, Stover said she worked at least 20 hours a week each semester she went to college. There also are other opportunities to make college affordable, such as serving as an RA or resident assistant.
Stover said she relied on people to hold her accountable, including her son who was a baby when she was getting her doctorate degree.
“He was my alarm clock. In one hand I would be holding him. In the other, I would be writing. Sometimes the people that will be holding us accountable, they don’t even know.”
South Sioux City speaker
Lina Traslaviña Stover of Omaha, who was the keynote speaker during the Latino Youth Summit in South Sioux City, encourages high school students to consider furthering their education after high school. (Northeast Community College)
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