Meet Adidoreydi Ortiz—known to friends and family as “Adi”—a B.S. in Child and Family Services major with a deep passion for nurturing young minds. As a proud Mexican-American and first-generation college student, she is forging a path of purpose and impact. Her heart is especially drawn to the vital early years of child development, where she hopes to make a lasting difference in the lives of babies and children. With dreams of one day owning and operating her own daycare, or serving as a committed child and family services practitioner, Adi is on a mission to turn her compassion into a lifelong career of care and service.
Her Journey to Serve Children and Families
Growing up, Adi always understood the importance of family. Having been raised around her Latino family, including younger cousins and friends, she always liked the idea of working with kids. As time went on, she graduated high school and decided to pause school for a moment and get to work. Wanting to find a nice daycare or nanny job, Adi dedicated some time looking for just the right place. And within a few months, she did. Beginning to work at a daycare center, she started to notice how her kids were behaving. Unlike what the movies show, she didn’t encounter kids kicking and screaming. Instead, to her surprise, they were very mature for their age – something she was not expecting.
“It was very odd,” Adi said. “However, it definitely gave me a chance to see how kids work. What they’re like, what they’re thinking. And that really made me wonder if working with kids could be in my future. I kept talking to my parents about it and they encouraged me to maybe even consider nannying on top of this job. Just to get another side of the whole child-care industry.”
Adding to her passion for working with children, Adi says she too was being shaped and strengthened. With the task of nannying for a family for over seven years, she gained a whirlwind of hands-on experience; all of which gave her a front-row seat to the joys and challenges of early childhood care and confirmed what she had already suspected—this is exactly where she belongs. From learning how to manage daily routines and developmental milestones to building meaningful connections with both children and their families, she gained invaluable insights that textbooks alone could never teach. These years not only deepened her love for children, but also revealed her natural ability to nurture, guide and advocate for their needs. Through every diaper change, story time and toddler tantrum, Adi began to envision a future where she could turn this calling into a full-time career—one filled with purpose, patience and heart.
“I just kept thinking about how I could get more involved in this field but also increase my pay and things like that,” Adi said. “So, I was reminded that maybe going back to school would be the best thing for me.”
A First-Generation Wildcat
Looking for a school that would be affordable, flexible and above all, Christ-centered, Adi searched high and low for a program that could fit exactly what she was looking for. After finding an advertisement for ACU Online, she decided to call an admission advisor. And, with one thing leading to another, she was sold. From the fact that she would be able to finish her courses on time, to the idea that her courses would be focused on the Gospel and how God wants every person to utilize their vocational calling, it didn’t take long for her to consider ACU Online her new college home.
“It was really exciting for me to start college,” Adi said. “I’m almost 30 years old now but the admissions advisors just made me feel like it’s never too late. And, I think I needed that because you can always feel like you’ve missed the boat, but until someone reminds you that God has a plan for you, you feel more empowered to go for it.”
Nearing the end of her second year, Adi says she has found her experience at ACU Online to be both enriching and empowering. She especially enjoys the Bible classes, which have deepened her faith and given her a stronger spiritual foundation, as well as her B.S. in Child and Family Services courses, which align perfectly with her passion and career goals. To her, each class feels like a step forward in both her personal growth and professional journey. What she didn’t expect, though, was the strong sense of community she’d find along the way. Through discussion boards, group projects and virtual meetups, Adi has formed meaningful friendships with classmates who encourage and inspire her. These connections, combined with the knowledge she’s gaining, have given her a new level of confidence—both in the workplace and in her everyday life. ACU Online hasn’t just helped her learn; it’s helped her believe in herself and the impact she’s capable of making.
“I’m going to be the first in my family to graduate from college,” Adi said. “And since that’s a big deal to me and my family, it’s made me very excited to complete my work, finish my assignments and keep my eye on the prize of graduating.”
Feeling incredibly blessed by God to be on this journey, Adi said she doesn’t take a single step of it for granted. In many ways, she sees her education not just as a personal achievement, but as a gift and responsibility—one that she believes God has carefully placed in her path. Every opportunity she’s been given, from her time at ACU Online to the years spent caring for children, feels like a piece of a bigger plan that He is faithfully guiding. In moments of doubt or challenge, she leans into her faith, trusting that God is shaping her for a future filled with purpose, service and love. She often reflects on how far she’s come and feels overwhelmed with gratitude for the doors that have opened and the people who have supported her. For Adi, this journey is more than a dream—it’s a divine calling and she’s honored to walk it with God by her side.
Are you interested in reaching your fullest potential? Visit our website today and see how you can achieve your academic dreams.
