More than 1,000 people celebrated the strong bond between mothers and daughters at the Socorro Independent School District’s 13th Annual Mother-Daughter Conference on Jan. 25 at Americas High School.
Among the participants were Karina Macias and her daughter, Mayah Navarro, who attended the conference for the second time.
Macias, a PE teacher at Desert Wind School, had such a positive experience at last year’s conference that she encouraged her friends and students to attend this year. She said the event helps cultivate healthy relationships between mothers and daughters, which is particularly important since her daughter will head off to college in a few years.
“This gives us an opportunity to bond and share and kind of learn a lot of things, do a lot of interesting programs,” said Macias, who has three children. “She loves the dancing parts, you know, and all the different arts and crafts, but we have seen a lot of the college ones now that she's headed that way. It's really fun to have these opportunities to see how her future is going to be.”
Attendees engaged in various activities, including spinning and dance classes and participated in different workshops on goal setting, mother-daughter relationships, stress management, and more. They also explored college opportunities and career options in pharmacy, welding and law enforcement.
Mayah Navarro, a freshman in the Falcon Early College program at Eastlake High School, said she looked forward to spending one-on-one time with her mom in the week leading up to the conference. One of their favorite sessions was learning to dance folklorico together.
“It's fun to do a lot of things together because we're both really busy since I have a lot of work with early college, and she also has a lot of work with my brothers, too. So, I'm thankful that we get to have just this day together,” Navarro said.
Adam Starke, SISD director of State and Federal Programs, said that this year’s conference had the highest participation since before the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The interest has just continued to be back with a vengeance, and that's proof of people in our community and how much they depend on us for a lot of connections and a lot of resources,” Starke said.
This year's keynote speaker was Chief Justice Maria Salas Mendoza of the Eighth Court of Appeals, who provided mothers and daughters with 10 tips based on her personal and professional experiences.
Mendoza encouraged participants to pursue their dreams, value timeliness, seek out mentors, make their beds each morning, work hard, dress better than their bosses, have faith in themselves, always accept a breath mint, appreciate the struggle and always be kind.
“I’m giving you these tips, but it doesn't mean that it’s a life plan,” Mendoza said. “That’s just my perspective. Everybody is going to give you advice but you have to figure out what works for you.”
Americas High School senior Ashley Serrano said Mendoza’s advice would work for her, and she plans to follow it when she starts working in her family’s construction business.
“Like her slogan, I loved it so much: ‘Act like a boss and be a boss.’ And that’s so true!” Serrano said. “I like her way of thinking, and I would apply it to my business.”
For Luvin Atilano, this year's conference was bittersweet. Her daughter is a senior at Pebble Hills High School and this was the last year they will attend the event. She emphasized that the conference has significantly strengthened their bond over the years, leaving them with lasting memories.
“It makes us grow together,” Atilano said. “There are some things that I’ve learned that maybe at home I wouldn’t have asked. It makes us grow a stronger bond together, and we have better communication between us. So, it has helped a lot.”