Hard work and dedication add up to mathematics degree for Daniel Navarro

Numbers provides a constant in an educational journey in a new country

By California State University, Bakersfield

December 10^th, 2019

The universality of numbers has a certain appeal to it. Even those who struggle with mathematics can appreciate that there’s only one right answer. For mathematics major Daniel Navarro, numbers provided a constant in an educational journey in a new country, in a second language.

That’s not to say mathematics courses were always easy for Navarro, who moved here from Mexico in 2008. His strength in the subject took hard work and dedication, especially as he was learning mathematical language as well as English. Soon, it will all add up to a bachelor’s degree, when Navarro graduates in the fall commencement on Dec. 11.

Education wasn’t a given for Navarro, now 41. The first-generation college student dropped out of high school in Mexico. Once in the States, his focus was on working to provide for his family; he met his wife about a year after moving to Bakersfield and the two have a blended family of five kids. It was a teacher at his child’s school who encouraged Navarro to earn his GED.

From there, Navarro began to think of work he could do outside of the manual labor jobs he had held. He enrolled at Bakersfield College and initially studied engineering. A scholarship he earned for BC required him to be a full-time student, so he took on more classes and less work, a schedule he maintained after transferring to CSUB in the fall of 2017.

“Little by little, I was encouraged to focus on (my education) more than the money I needed at that time,” Navarro said. “So, I learned to tighten my belt a little bit and not spend as much, which was very hard but taught me a lot.”

Navarro’s interest switched from engineering to mathematics in part because of his work as a karate instructor. He realized he enjoyed teaching and, remembering a teacher in Mexico who took the extra time to help him with the subject as a child, decided he would like to be a mathematics teacher.

“I feel teaching mathematics in a nontraditional way will benefit a lot more students, especially students who are struggling with a language, like me,” Navarro said. “I want to provide a lesson where students can participate, where students can think about what I’m trying to teach using what they already know.”

Navarro recalled a trigonometry class he initially struggled with during a summer session at BC. He didn’t pass that time, but when he took the class again later, he did so well he ended up tutoring other students.

“It was one of those moments in life where persistence will lead you to find something,” he said. “I felt devastated in the beginning, but I just committed to passing the class and I ended up liking it.”

Since starting at CSUB, Navarro has felt more confident as a student. He said he likes the faculty of the mathematics department here even though they can sometimes be tough. As a future educator himself, he knows the importance of placing high, but reasonable, expectations on students.

“(The professors here) are not easy, but I can see why they’re hard on students,” Navarro said. “I’m glad the professors are like that. I use it as a model for when I teach. I want my students to work hard, and my job now is to make sure that they find mathematics fun.”

CSUB mathematics professor Dr. Becky Larson was impressed with Navarro’s dedication to his education and family.

“Amidst all he had going on in his life, Daniel was always positive,” said Dr. Larson, who taught Navarro in her modern algebra course last fall. “He worked hard, would come to office hours when he needed extra help, and finished in the top third of students in that course.”

Motivating Navarro along the way has been his wife, Tracie, who recently gave birth to their newest addition three months ago, a baby girl named Azalea. In addition to their kids, the couple also cares for Navarro’s mother-in-law, who has Alzheimer’s and dementia. Though it has been difficult to juggle both family and school obligations, Navarro draws strength from his family, knowing education will better help him support them.

“I want my kids to see that I can do something with my career,” he said. “The main thing is to graduate from college, because I would like them to do the same thing. I don’t think I could do it without them, because they give me the support to be here.”

With graduation in sight, Navarro said it’s an emotional time for him.

“I went from failing to at least a college education, so I feel that all these years of school provided me with confidence,” he said. “I feel that I can tackle anything, really, I just have to put the time in. It’s given me so many tools. College has opened so many doors.”

Navarro is looking forward to walking in the commencement ceremony, a culmination of years of hard work and sacrifice.

“It’s important for me,” he said of walking. “My kids are going to be there. When I graduated from BC, they were just jumping around. They were so proud of me. Now I’m going to do it again, and this time it’s going to be even better.”