Julia Patricia Torre: From Women's Shelter to Commencement

Next Step Is MBA for International Understanding Award Recipient

May 13, 2008 :: No. 254

As a young girl growing up in Mexico, Julia Patricia Torre dreamed of becoming a businesswoman. She would set up a "shop" in front of her house and sell candy, gum and drinks to her friends and neighbors. However, as she grew up, life threw her a few curves.

Yet, she persevered to complete her bachelor's degree in international business at Cal State Fullerton, receiving numerous honors and scholarships along the way. She is this year's International Understanding Award recipient and will be honored during the university's honors convocation May 16, on the eve of Commencement 2008.

Julia Patricia Torre

While Torre was living in Mexico City, she met an American businessman who would eventually bring her to America and become her husband and the father of their two daughters.

"My husband was in sales, so we would move as he was promoted," she said. "It was a very isolating time for me because I missed my family in Mexico, and I had problems with English. In Mexico City, I had been working and going to college. Now, I was following my husband."

The couple ended up moving from Huntington Beach to Miami. There, Torre's marriage, already shaky to begin with, began to disintegrate. Her husband was abusive and traveled frequently. She found herself in an unfamiliar city, alone except for her two infant daughters.

Eventually, the family moved back to Huntington Beach, and when her husband went on another business trip, she took her daughters and moved into The Sheepfold, a shelter for women and children.

"The Sheepfold had rules for its residents, and one of the rules was you had to get a job," she said. "I didn't have a degree or speak English, but every morning, I would get on the bus and go looking for work."

Finally, she found work in an import/export shrimp business, but after repeatedly being harassed by employees and customers - who assumed that because she didn't speak English well, they wouldn't be reported - she quit.

"One day, I just had it," she said. "I thought, I'd rather sell sandwiches door-to-door than deal with this."

And so, for a week, that's exactly what she did, going from business to business. Torre soon discovered that selling sandwiches wouldn't cover the cost of rent, and she knew she needed a new job. She also knew she needed to complete her education if she wanted to get out of the cycle of one dead-end job after another.

"I had been going to Golden West College part time, while I was working," she said. "But now I knew it was time to get serious."

Torre began applying for scholarships . and getting them. With the help of Project Self-Sufficiency in Huntington Beach, she moved with her daughters into a student apartment. And in fall of 2005, she began classes at Cal State Fullerton.

"The faculty was so helpful," she said. "They motivated me, listened to me, offered advice, helped me apply for scholarships and were great teachers. Their support meant the world to me."

"Julia was a student of mine in the international marketing class," said Irene Lange, chair and professor of marketing. "She was very conscientious. Her research was thorough and professionally presented. On many occasions, she told me that without an education, she believed there was no future."

"At first, coming to Cal State Fullerton was so scary," Torre recalled. "I couldn't find the right buildings or rooms." Now, however, she says attending CSUF was "one of the greatest things to ever happen to me."

Torre currently serves as co-vice president of the Phi Beta Delta Honor Society for International Scholars and is a member of the Golden Key International Honor Society, the Latino Business Student Association and the Finance Association.

During an internship with the Huntington Beach Chamber of Commerce, she helped organize a business leaders' trip to China and was able to accompany the group.

In the fall, Torre will begin work on an M.B.A. at Cal State Fullerton.

Right now, she's looking forward to Sunday's graduation ceremonies, where her daughters, ages 7 and 9, will cheer her on.

"I want them to be educated women, and I want to set an example," she said. "Don't wait for 'Prince Charming.' Go and make your own life. I want them to be proud of me."

Torre's ceremony is scheduled to begin at approximately 9:45 a.m. May 18 in Titan Stadium.

Photo:Available online at www.fullerton.edu/newsphotos

Media Contacts:
Valerie Orleans, Public Affairs, 657-278-4540 or vorleans@fullerton.edu

Online Publications
Inside
Titan Magazine