‘Passion for learning’: 68-year-old FSU College of Law student turns the tassel
Jesus Mojica — a native of La Yerbabuena, Mexico — moved to the U.S. at 18, toiling in the fields as a farmworker during the day and going to school for English at night.
Fifty years later, the now 68-year-old Mojica graduated from Florida State University with his master of laws (LL.M.) degree during Friday’s commencement ceremony at the Tucker Civic Center.
“I have always wanted to get higher education, and I always dreamed of becoming a lawyer,” Mojica said. “Going back to school has always been the motivation for earning a law degree.”
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He took the GED (General Educational Development) exam and passed after his first attempt, earning him a high school diploma. Mojica went on to receive an associate’s degree from Hillsborough Community College in Tampa and took more English language courses before receiving a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of South Florida in 1984.
After 35 years of working for the Florida Department of Revenue as a tax auditor, manager and revenue program administrator, he earned a law degree from the University of Innovation & Culture (UNIC) in Zapopan, Mexico in 2020, which set the stage for his enrollment into FSU’s College of Law.
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Mojica has been pursuing his LL.M. in American law for foreign lawyers in the College of Law program for nearly two years with the goal of obtaining a doctor of jurisprudence (J.D.) and practicing in labor law, business law or the administration of immigration law in the U.S.
While a juris doctor degree prepares individuals to practice law, an LL.M. is a master's level degree that provides specialized legal training for students who hold a previous degree in law, giving them more flexibility in creating a curriculum that matches their interest.
Mojica says his biggest challenge during his academic journey has been adjusting to the English language.
“I barely knew any English,” Mojica said. “Part of the reason why I even majored in accounting was because of the numbers — one, two, three in English is the same as uno, dos, tres in Español. The struggle has always been trying to become more and more proficient in the English language.”
But he did not let the barrier stop him from reaching his higher education goals. And Mojica’s wife of over 45 years, Teresa Mojica, has been supporting him every step of the way.
“Our two sons and I are so proud of him,” she said. “I always knew he had the intelligence to accomplish what he wanted to do.”
FSU College of Law Professor Jeffrey Kahn expressed how students like Mojica make significant contributions through their classroom engagement to make the LL.M. Program a “real gem.”
“He has been a pleasure to have in the classroom,” Kahn said. “He has the energy of a college student and a passion for learning. The school will miss him, but I wish him the best and look forward to seeing what successes he has next.”
After crossing the stage Friday evening during FSU’s 7 p.m. graduation ceremony, Mojica's next hurdle to jump over is obtaining a U.S. juris doctor degree to be eligible to sit for the Florida Bar Exam.
“Of course, the journey hasn't been easy, but I’m closer to accomplishing what I dream of becoming one day,” Mojica said.
To livestream FSU’s commencement ceremonies Friday, visit the university’s website at https://commencement.fsu.edu/.
Contact Tarah Jean at tjean@tallahassee.com or follow her on X: @tarahjean_.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FSU College of Law's 68-year-old student graduates
