Philippines Native Worked Hard for Academic Honors

When Mary Lumor first came to the United States, in 2008, she was a 16-year-old shy high school senior who couldn’t speak English.

Fresh from the Philippines, she said she had to convince the Greater Egg Harbor Regional School District that she belonged in 12th grade.

Not only was she able to do that, she went on to graduate from Absegami High School, and the now-18-year-old second-year student at last week was named an Academic all-American by the National Junior College Athletic Association.

She’s also studying to be a nurse, and she now speaks fluent English.

“(Being an Academic all-American) is great, but I’m not sure how I got it,” Lumor said. “I’ve trained to maintain a high GPA because the nursing program is competitive. “

Last week, she received her acceptance letter into the nursing program.

Through four semesters at the college, Lumor has maintained a 3.72 GPA while helping to guide the first volleyball team in school history to the regionals of the NJCAA tournament.

Playing volleyball is something Lumor enjoyed when she lived in the Philippines, but had to build up the courage to do so when she came to America.

“It was a little intimidating,” Lumor said. “Everyone in my grade was two years older than me, and I didn’t know how to (speak English).”

She practiced speaking English at home, and the friends she was able to eventually make helped her.

Everyone was older than her because she moved through school quickly in the Philippines.

“There is no junior high school in the Philippines, so after sixth grade, you go directly to high school,” Lumor said. “I gave them my grades and my credits, but (the school district) wanted me to be a sophomore.”

Lumor was accepted as a senior, but had to take some required courses, including two U.S. history courses her senior year.

The life Lumor entered into may have been intimidating, but difficulties in life isn’t something new to Lumor.

“My dad died when I was 4 years old,” said Lumor, who has two older sisters and an older brother.

Her mother and her oldest sister moved to the United States in 2006. One year later, her brother joined them.

Her mother obtained a job as a nurse, and would send money to Lumor and her older sister back in the Philippines. Lumor’s sister was 18 years old, but neither of them had a job.

“We were both in school,” Lumor said. “We had to juggle our budget. We had to pay the bills and do all that stuff.”

Her sister was in college, studying to be a nurse. She graduated before they came to America.

In 2008, Lumor and her sister joined the rest of the family in the United States, in Galloway Township to be exact. Lumor went through culture shock, initially, and it wasn’t all confined to high school.

“Things are expensive here,” Lumor said. “In the Philippines, $2 is a lot of money. I couldn’t believe how expensive things are here.”

There is also no snow in the Philippines.

“I was wearing two layers of clothes,” said Lumor of her first snowfall in America.

Lumor is studying at Atlantic Cape with an eye on joining the rest of her immediate family in the nursing profession: Her oldest sister is a licensed practical nurse and her brother is a nursing assistant.

Her mother was a nursing assistant until the next tragedy struck the family in 2009. Her mother was diagnosed with cancer.

“She’s a survivor,” Lumor said. “She hasn’t worked since, but she’s planning to go back to school at Cumberland County Tech for one year to become a licensed practical nurse.”

At this point, Lumor, her sisters and her brother are working to repay the woman who brought her family to the United States for a better life.

“We’re trying to repay everything,” Lumor said. “We’re responsible for our mother. That’s kept us going strong.”

Lumor’s drive and dedication is paying off, in the classroom as well as in her personal life. After years of taking public transportation in the Philippines and the United States, Lumor is taking her driving test later this month.

“I’ve made a lot of friends,” Lumor said. “I’m more outgoing. I’m not shy anymore. And I know how to (speak English).”