Suleiny
"Coming from the Dominican Republic, I understand how confusing it can be to find resources for schools, especially when you don't always understand the language. But [going back to school] was so easy and I felt like they always had my back. I switched from business to culinary arts. I graduated with honors on top of having done two externships in restaurants as part of my program, all while pursuing citizenship. I hope to learn about the different paths culinary arts can take me, and open my own restaurant."
James
"After decades of customer and food service jobs and not being able to work my way up at companies, I finally discovered the drone program at Warren County Community College. A lack of self-esteem was a huge roadblock for me when it came to going back to school at 40, but the support [I received] gave me the confidence I needed to become the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society president of my chapter and graduate Summa Cum Laude with a 3.95 GPA."
Mayra
"I was laid off as a bank manager during the pandemic and experienced significant anxiety about how to make ends meet as a single mother. When the staff from North Hudson reached out to me, I decided to pursue a degree in software engineering. At the bank, I was always the first one in and the last one out --focusing on school while working to cover expenses would have been impossible. Thanks to [the support I received], I will graduate debt-free. I hope to use my degree to build a career developing apps that improve daily lives, especially after experiencing how quickly lives changed during this pandemic."
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