A PATH REVEALED VOLUNTEERING OPENS DOORS FOR PACOIMA RESIDENT.

Byline: RICK COCA Valley News Writer

As a student at Los Angeles Valley College, Gloria Santana would often get extra time to turn in class assignments from sympathetic professors.

When Santana started volunteering at the Volunteer Center of Los Angeles in Panorama City more than two years ago, they told her that deadlines are deadlines, period.

She likes the discipline of a ticking clock.

Santana, 26, is the volunteer coordinator of the Workforce Literacy Project at the Volunteer Center.

The Pacoima resident, who donated her time during her first year at the center, now is earning money toward her college education by working there as a participant of AmeriCorps, a national nonprofit community service program.

A great accomplishment made all the more impressive by Santana's physical limitations because of spinal muscular dystrophy, a muscle weakening disease. A disease that has rendered her a quadriplegic.

But her physical limitations have not stopped her from living life to her fullest. Even though she had never held a job before, when presented with the opportunity to volunteer at the center, Santana was determined to succeed.

``I don't see myself in a wheelchair,'' Santana said. ``I always felt that I was like everybody else. I knew in the end I could do it.''

Since starting at the center, Santana has utilized a voice recognition software that allows her to work at her computer and answer her phone without the use of her hands, which have been weakened by muscular dystrophy.

Santana admitted those first few days on the job were nerve-racking, but her co-workers eventually made her feel at home.

Santana said she's just a semester short of an associate of arts degree from Valley College in communications, and that before working at the Volunteer Center, she planned on working in public relations. She now wants to continue working in the nonprofit industry.

In her work with the literacy program she visits colleges, fairs and community events to recruit volunteers. She also goes on site visits, where she sees firsthand the effects of the literacy program.

``It's a good feeling you get when you see somebody (who has struggled reading) get a sentence out,'' Santana said.

Santana credits the center's director of volunteer service, Kelly Jackson, with helping her grow in the job.

``She always treated me with professionalism,'' Santana said. ``She made me feel much better and confident in going out there into the community.''

Santana's sister Estela, 20, also works at the center through the AmeriCorps program.

Santana said in 2005 she traveled by train to Houston as part of the AmeriCorps orientation. It was her first time on a train.

Santana has experienced a lot of ``firsts'' since arriving at the center. She said that if she can, she'll continue working there through the AmeriCorps program for a second year. She's not sure what the future holds for her beyond that, but she's absolutely sure of one thing.

``If this doesn't work out, I'll continue looking for something else,'' Santana said. ``(It's) like a taste I have for work. And I'm not going back home.''