Harper College is closed on Friday, April 18, for Reading Day.
When Roger Doherty-Ramirez signed up for Harper College Foundation’s Interactive Tour last fall, he didn’t anticipate an emotional homecoming. As part of the tour, participants visited an Adult Education Development class filled with students learning English—students who reminded Roger of himself not so long ago.
Roger moved to the U.S. from Mexico at 25, dreaming of completing his education. In Mexico, he had been pursuing an optometry degree, but when he arrived in the States, a major challenge stood in his way: he spoke very little English.
“I knew I needed to learn the language to be successful,” Roger recalled. “I told myself, ‘I need to communicate on my own.’”
Determined, Roger enrolled in Harper’s English as a Second Language (ESL) program. Immersed in the supportive environment, he flourished. After completing the program, he earned his associate degree from Harper College in 2010 focusing on bilingual education to help others overcome language barriers like he had.
His hard work didn’t stop there. A Motorola Scholarship recipient and selected graduation speaker, Roger also balanced two jobs while at Harper. After graduating, he earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary and bilingual education at Northeastern Illinois University (NEIU). In May 2024, after 10 years in pursuit of higher education, he achieved his master’s degree with a perfect 4.0 GPA.
Now a 4th grade bilingual teacher in Gurnee School District 56, Roger teaches language arts and math in both English and Spanish. His work is deeply personal, and he is grateful for his role in empowering his students.
During his visit to Harper, Roger seized the chance to inspire current Harper ESL students. Speaking to the class, he shared his story of perseverance and the value of being bilingual.
“It wasn’t that long ago that I was in their shoes,” Roger said. “I told them to follow their dreams and not give up. My goal was to finish my education in four years—it took much longer, but I never quit. If I can do it, they can too.”
Roger’s journey, from learning English at Harper to teaching it, is a testament to resilience and the power of education.
