From Broom to Bachelor’s: The Inspirational Journey of Alda Ramos

Alda Ramos is a resilient and determined woman whose journey from janitor to university graduate is nothing short of inspirational. Alda initially began as a caretaker at the University of Belize. For nineteen years, she diligently ensured the cleanliness of the campus, while quietly holding on to a dream of pursuing her education. In this week’s Look on the Bright Side we go back down memory lane to learn how Alda used a broom to obtain a bachelors.

Alda Ramos

Alda Ramos, Counselor, Family Violence Unit, Belize Police Department

“What inspired me a lot is, whenever graduation day, I see people writing up on their clothes, their uniform, and I wanted that feeling. It’s like, man, every time people, students, may pass, I just wanted to have that same feeling that they have.”

At the age of forty-six, Alda Ramos is a dedicated counselor at the Family Violence Unit of the Belize Police Department. She is fulfilling her lifelong passion and dream job. It’s been four years since she took on this new role. Before then, she was a janitor at the University of Belize.

Alda Ramos
“Between five and six, I try to be there as early as possible, right? So, when I reach, I have the responsibility to take care of sometimes six or seven classrooms. And I have two large offices to deal with. I also had responsibility as an overseas supervisor as well. So after that, I need to go and check what, what the other employees, how their work looks, so that I could have reported it to my supervisor.”

Alda made the decision to go back to high school at the age of thirty-three. She enrolled at St. John’s College Extension with the help of a good samaritan and graduated high school at the age of thirty six.  That’s where her transition from janitorial work began.

Alda Ramos
“I was a high school dropout. I dropped out at the age of sixteen in third form. I got pregnant and I was scared. I was scared and didn’t know what to do, but during my time at UB I wanted to go back to school. I believe the feeling was there. I was so excited. I was so happy. And I didn’t want to stop.”

…and she didn’t. Ramos took full advantage of an opportunity to further her education. Fermin Olivera, a distinguished lecturer at the University of Belize, emerged as an influential figure in Ramos’ journey. As a past colleague, Olivera eased into mentorship and lectured to Ramos after she shared her ambition to pursue an associate degree in social work, all while working as janitor.

Fermin Olivera

Fermin Olivera, Social Work Lecturer, University of Belize

“Coming here to the University of Belize many years ago, Alda was a staff.  She did some house cleaning. She was a pleasant person, and already had several kids who used to come around. And there was little chit chat, not only with myself but with other persons, her interest in doing social work. It was, I think, a little worse than she had anticipated. Many days she was very emotional. People helped her with work. Now, we needed to be very mindful of being her lecturer and what we could. But we rallied around her. It wasn’t an unfair question that she had and being here, she consulted us very frequently on a number of things.”

Many of those feelings stemmed from Ramos juggling her financial burden and workload, along with the responsibilities of being a single parent. Her eldest daughter revealed that on occasions, they even accompanied her to work.

Fermin Olivera

“She was a single mom, I don’t know how many people. She had several kids. Some teenage kids at the time, had a job, uh, you know, had all these struggles that regular people have.”

Sherain Yearwood

Sherain Yearwood, Daughter

“I am the eldest child and I had to watch her go through it, dealing with us, trying to prepare, trying to prepare meals on an everyday basis. Reaching to work on time, it was really difficult. And some of the days we had to actually be there at work with her.  She just became my motivator. To watch her do it independently, alone, I had to actually be there and step in places that she couldn’t be and when she wasn’t there. I was her biggest supporter.”

Alda Ramos

“Many times I wanted to give up.  And say, man, I want this, but how would I, how would I reach it? How would I be able to touch it?”

But the sacrifice paid off, and after four years, Alda Ramos completed her Associates.

Fermin Olivera

“I think the associate’s degree helped her to believe that this is possible. And she took that step and all the sacrifices that are, that are around that financial and otherwise. And of course she got some time, uh, kudos to the university and the policy for allowing, their staff upward mobility.”

However, Ramos wasn’t content to simply stop there. After successfully earning her first degree, Alda made the bold decision to maintain her position as a janitor, while capitalizing on the staff benefits available to her. She held onto her broom.. all the way to her bachelors.

Alda Ramos

“There is something that I wanted to do. I know that I could be placed somewhere and do something. And my dream was to work in the police department as the counselor at the unit. That was my dream from an early start.”

Fermin Olivera

“I think she represents that wonderful human spirit, that you can achieve something if you put your mind to it. We are not saying that it is easy, that the decision, I mean the challenges that will be around that. But good things, it takes energy to accomplish, to get to do good things. To tell you how we felt,  really pure admiration personally for her, serious respect, um, uh, and of course the process of social work, education is a, is a, is one that changes you. It changes how you think and how you see many things. And I think from, uh, her life experience and coming into the profession and being a young, I would say a young professional in the field.”

Sherain Yearwood

“I’m happy, you know, but at  the same time,  Who could have thought that she could have done it, you know, coming from cleaning, cleaning, you know, the classroom to  a counselor, right?”

After graduating with her bachelor’s degree in 2019, Ramos finally parted ways with her trusty broomstick and started the job of her dreams. Now, as counselor at the Family Violence Unit of the Belize Police Department, she serves a population of individuals that could use some of the same advice she needed in her youth.

Fermin Olivera

“I mean, she has so much to offer the clientele that she will serve in terms of the compassion, the knowledge, the just believing that people can change.”

Alda Ramos

“I feel pretty good about the work that I am doing. I am proud to do so, also, and try to help everyone to the best of my ability. I have a motto, though, and my motto is, I cannot save a thousand, but if I can save one, I’m okay. I’m good.”

Looking on the Bright Side, I’m Sabreena Daly

At the age of 46, Ramos is hoping to get a scholarship to complete her masters before she turns 50.