Photo by Saeed Lobbad
Riverside janitor Deysi Polanco couldn’t help but smile as she talked about her children’s academic achievements.
From a young age, they were responsible, independent, and hardworking students.
“When they were in middle school, I didn’t have to wake them up anymore,” Polanco said in Spanish during a Pirates’ Hook interview. “They were very independent and hardworking.”
One of the family’s greatest achievements was when the children began receiving college scholarships to continue their studies. For Polanco, this brought great happiness, as it eased the financial burden of education.
“I felt very happy,” she said. “I didn’t have to pay anything.”
However, their journey was not without challenges.
Her oldest son, Jimmy Aleman, was initially told he would not receive a full scholarship, which caused disappointment for both him and Polanco.
Despite this, with encouragement and determination, they found a way for him to continue his education.
Today, their accomplishments speak for themselves.
Jimmy earned a degree in business, while her second child, Odaliys, graduated with a degree in psychology and economics and is now pursuing a master’s degree while working for UNC.
Her youngest, Jose, a senior at J.D. Clement Early College High School, has already been accepted to Harvard, plans to study biomedical engineering, and hopes to become an NIH scientist.
“Above all others, my parents are the two biggest figures in my life,” Jose said in an article published by Durham Public Schools highlighting the April Students of the Month. “Their constant hard work and sacrifices are the sole reason that I have made it this far. More than encouragement, their trust in me and my abilities has driven me to where I am today.”
