LAKELAND, Florida — A Florida Polytechnic University professor is finding success without barriers.

  • Dr. Luis Jaimes teaches computer science
  • He had never taught in English until a few years ago
  • South American native got his doctorate at USF

Dr. Luis Jaimes has been dealing with multiple obstacles but is finally living his dream as an accomplished computer science professor.

He is now using his story to connect and inspire students.

"It was difficult but not impossible," Jaimes said. "It was a lot of challenge."

The South American native had to work hard to put himself through higher education — first in Colombia and Puerto Rico with scholarships.

In 2010, he got the chance to get his doctorate at the University of South Florida, where he got his first teaching opportunity.

He had never taught in English before, but he didn't give up.

"I was teaching and I was feeling so comfortable, right, and eventually the students start to laugh and I realized that I was teaching in Spanish," Jaimes said.

He later applied for a job at Florida Poly. He was rejected the first time but wouldn't take no for an answer.

In 2016, he finally achieved his dream.

"As long as you love what you do, eventually you will get it," he said.

Now he finds comfort in the school's diversity and acceptance.

"People from Colombia, Puerto Rico, China, India, so it's very nice to talk and knowing that people from around the world had the same experiences," Jaimes said.

Students, in turn, find comfort as well.

"I guess they see you as some kind of mold, you know, so yeah we would like to give a good example of success to our student," he said. "I guess somehow I encourage them to continue on their journey."

Nearly 25 percent of the university's student body is Hispanic, according to the professor, so he says that helps him connect even more.