His 13-year journey is a tale of true grit

Solis, 29, is quiet, serious and humble. He wasn't sure there was a reason to share his story.

I insisted there was. It is an important one, I told him.

Friday, Solis, along with 83 classmates, graduated from the University of Arizona College of Pharmacy.

Nearly 13 years ago, Solis was a senior at Tucson Magnet High School. He and his future wife, Annette Almeda, a senior at Rincon High School, were parents of newborn fraternal twin girls.

"It was difficult to take care of the babies," said Solis.

The young parents dropped out of high school in October 1997, and he looked for a job. But Solis returned to high school and, in an accelerated fashion, completed his degree.

His first minimum-wage job was at Peter Piper Pizza at East 22nd Street and South Alvernon Way, near his home. A year later, he found a job at the nearby Walgreens, which paid a little better.

There he met pharmacist Louie Peralta. Their friendship turned Solis' life around.

Peralta, a 1989 graduate of Pueblo High School and 1997 graduate of the UA's pharmacy school, saw something special in Solis: intelligence and willingness to learn. "He worked long hours to support his family," said Peralta, today a pharmacist with El Rio Clinic.

Even customers took a liking to Solis and admired his grit.

"There's this thing about him you like - determination," said Pat Darcy, a former major-league baseball player and a big Solis fan.

The more Solis told Peralta his story, his dreams of providing a better life for his family, which eventually included a third child, the more Peralta urged Solis to take a huge step and return to school.

He did, enrolling at Pima Community College with an eye toward the UA.

Solis wasn't sure he could do it - study and work full time. But he was fortunate. He had his strong circle of support from his wife, mother and grandmother.

When Solis was a child, his single mom, Frances Solis, took him to his grandmother's west-side home in Barrio Hollywood while she went to work. He attended Manzo Elementary and Maxwell Middle schools and stayed with his grandmother, Sylvia Miranda, until his mom finished work.

Back in school years later, Solis completed his Pima degree and applied for the pharmacy program. He didn't make the cut.

But he wouldn't let that cut down his dream. He retook some classes to improve his candidacy, and the following year he was accepted.

For the next six years, Solis studied and worked full time. He worked late hours and weekends, between his classes and study hours.

Sometimes he questioned his decision. It was difficult for him, his wife and children.

"I'm not going to lie," said his wife, Annette. "It was hard. We had our ups and downs."

But when he doubted himself, she urged him to continue, for the children, for himself.

Solis stuck with it.

When he finished telling his story, I asked Solis if he realized what he had accomplished. He said nothing, but his eyes moistened.

He hadn't sized up his accomplishment, I suggested to him. He hadn't put his achievement in a wider context.

But when his tears flowed, when his emotions and pride swelled, it was his way of saying that he understood the sacrifice - and that his story is worth telling.

Ernesto Portillo Jr. is editor of La Estrella de Tucsón. He can be reached at 573-4187 or netopjr@azstarnet.com