Maricela Quiroga, a building attendant for the University Library in Edinburg, began her journey with legacy institution University of Texas-Pan American 22 years ago and continues to work for UTRGV.
Quiroga started working for UTPA after leaving her other job. Her current job has been able to provide her children an education and the opportunity to obtain a college degree.
Quiroga said she came to the U.S. from Mexico in 1984.
“I’ve been blessed … in this country, especially, because God helped us provide an education to our children and for all of them to have a good-quality life,” she said in Spanish.
Quiroga has four sons: Nehemias, Abraham and Jose Ignacio, who graduated from UTPA; and Rudy, who graduated from a school in Houston.
Nehemias has a bachelor’s in management; Abraham, marketing; and Jose, finance. Rudy earned a certificate and works as a collision consultant.
Quiroga recalls that she had to take the night shift because she needed to take care of her sons during the day. Her husband worked daytime shifts so he could take care of their sons at night.
“The reason I worked 18 years at night was for the benefit of my children,” she said.
She says that this was one of the couple’s biggest efforts, for her children to succeed. Quiroga would work from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m.
She has been working the daytime shift, 7:45 a.m. to 4:45 p.m., for three years now.
Carlos Chavez, assistant director for Facilities Programs and Services, said Quiroga needs no supervision, since she knows what needs to get done.
“She takes it upon herself to look at the building, see the needs of the building, and then make plans on how she’s going to tackle down all those cleaning duties that she needs to do,” Chavez said.
He said Quiroga makes plan for future tasks, and has helped train other staff, as well.
“For her to be able to have all of her kids … with an education … that, to me, is a big achievement,” Chavez said.
Quiroga said she enjoys doing her job at the university, but has other plans in the future.
“I keep doing my job with a lot of dedication, effort, and love toward the university and … I have a great appreciation for all the students,” she said.
One of her plans is to accumulate the years of service needed for her retirement. She also owns a business with her husband, and after leaving the university, she plans to focus on it.
Another goal is to spend more time with her family, especially with her daughters-in-law, with whom she has great communication, but wishes to create stronger bonds.
