In 1984, she was a 21-year-old student in her third year at El Camino College and working part time as an assistant in the ECC library.

She married in 1985 and had her first child that same year. She had planned on getting her associate degree, but her focus at that point was her family and making a living.

Laurie Pelayo, 58, is a library and learning resources specialist, now in her 40th year of employment at ECC. She has dedicated her career to the ECC library, meticulously cataloging and processing new material, which includes entering computer records, barcoding and labeling books.

And 17 years ago, in 2005, she got her degree in history.

“Everything kind of happened in 2005,” Laurie says. “The cool thing is (my) kids were pretty understanding and I think I set a good example for them.”

Her hazel eyes gleam behind cat eye-framed glasses, accompanying a friendly and energetic demeanor. Dark brown, wavy shoulder-length hair frames her fair complexion. She spends her days surrounded by books and wears the school name with pride.

Laurie has been married for 37 years to husband Alden Pelayo. She has three grown children and all attended ECC. Her eldest daughter, Lessa Pelayo-Lozada, 36, followed in Laurie’s footsteps, and what’s even more unique, is that Laurie got to graduate together with Lessa.

“We both graduated in 2005. So we marched together, except she was (on) the honor roll and I was not,” Laurie says.