Bismillah grew up in Afghanistan where ongoing conflict made it extremely challenging to excel in school. He faced numerous challenges and hardships that could have easily derailed his dream of pursuing higher education, but determination and perseverance have enabled...
From humble beginnings in Bangladesh, Shermin nurtured her love for art and learning amidst challenges. Marriage and motherhood brought many struggles, but her determination remained unshaken. Her studies were put on hold when her daughter was born, and distance...
Luis is from Nicaragua. In 2018, his life took a drastic turn. He was studying industrial engineering at the Engineering University of Nicaragua when anti-government protests erupted, and the police began targeting, killing, kidnapping, and imprisoning students from...
Josephine moved to the U.S. with dreams of furthering her education. When she arrived, she was met with financial challenges that forced her to put her education on hold. Instead of pursuing her GED, she obtained her certified nursing assistant certificate and started...
Enrique is from El Salvador. After finishing high school, he joined a Roman Catholic seminary for four years before seeking a new path in pursuit of his dream of becoming a graphic designer. Life outside the seminary was difficult, gangs are prevalent in his home...
Growing up in a challenging environment in Colombia, Ana found inspiration in her mother's strength. Her mother worked hard to put food on the table and introduced her to music and books. Books quickly became Ana’s window to a world of possibilities, sparking a desire...
Born and raised in Haiti, Luggens was taught at a young age to tackle challenges head-on. When Luggens arrived in the U.S. he faced language barriers, but this did not deter him from pursuing his education. He took beginner's English classes, determined to master the...
Cristhian's life has been marked by challenges and sacrifices. Despite the tragic murder of his father at a young age, he stepped up to support his family and put his dreams on hold. Through determination and hard work, he pursued his education, finding joy in math...
As a first-generation college student in Colombia, Lorena discovered her calling in psychology and witnessed the need for accessible mental health services. Moving to the United States alone, Lorena faced new challenges, but her determination only grew stronger....
Bintou is from a small town in Africa’s Ivory Coast. For girls in her family going to school was unheard of. Her father believed school was designed for boys and girls were meant to stay at home, learning to cook, clean, and eventually take care of a husband, a home,...
Rodieka grew up in Jamacia. As the oldest of four siblings raised by a single mother, life was not easy growing up, but her mother's teachings about the value of education has always been her guiding light. With an impressive academic journey in Jamaica, Rodieka...
Kayla dropped out of high school when she was in twelfth grade. She was pregnant and just a few classes short of the graduation requirements. Her intent was to finish her high school classes, but once her son was born the demands of being a single mother took over....
Michaela has faced many hardships throughout her life, including an abusive relationship and homelessness. Through these difficult times Michaela persevered, determined to create a better life for herself and her two sons. Her time in a domestic violence shelter was a...
Joshalyn's life is a testament to strength and determination. Despite a challenging upbringing and adversity at every turn, she refused to become a statistic. From a young age, she faced difficulties, but she never lost sight of her goals. Leaving home at twelve and...
As a child Natalie struggled in school due to bullying from both students and teachers. Eventually the bullying got to be too much, so she resorted to homeschooling. With the help from the Methuen Adult Learning Center, Natalie passed her high school equivalency exam....
Zhongwei is from China and the first in his family to attend college. When he arrived in the U.S. he faced a severe illness that depleted his savings and forced him to put his education on hold. After recovering from his illness, he started working at a local...
Lesly's journey is one of courage, determination, and compassion. From serving as a police officer in his native country to immigrating to the United States in search of peace and a better life, Lesly's desire to become a nurse shines brightly. Despite facing numerous...
Christele packed her bags and traveled from Haiti to the United States with the intention of staying for 2 weeks. She came to the U.S. to get away from the dangers and stress disrupting her life in Haiti. The two weeks turned permanent when she realized it was unsafe...
Nicole was a journalist in her home country of Haiti for 20 years. She was forced to leave Haiti because of volatile political situations bearing abuse, kidnapping and murder targeting journalists. Coming to the United States with her young daughter was not easy as...
Dihelin is from the West African country of Togo, where she studied sociology at the University of Togo before moving to the United States. She left her home in search of a better life and to work toward her goal of helping others by becoming a nurse or doctor....
Bushrah was born in Uganda. She is the oldest of five siblings and the first in her family to attend college. Her time in the U.S. has not been easy. She’s faced several challenges, from domestic violence to homelessness. She is now a single mother of two young...
Anny lost her mother to cancer when she was just 13 years old. Growing up with her father and three brothers she learned to be strong, grateful, and happy. In her home country she worked hard to achieve her professional goals. Now living in the U.S. she is determined...
As a 20-year old graduate in Uganda with a bachelor's degree in Accounting, Hajarah was gaining the confidence to make decisions for herself rather than for others as she had done in the past. The choices she made to live a better life for herself resulted in her...
Juan immigrated to the U.S. in search of a better life for both himself and his parents. For much of his life he has struggled with a medical condition which he was unable to receive adequate care in his home country. In addition to the physical burdens related to his...
Fougere was born in Haiti and immigrated to the U.S. to seek a better life for himself and his family. When Fougere moved to the U.S. he faced a language barrier, but he was determined to be a role model to his five children. He is currently working to improve his...
Kevin grew up in the Dominican Republic with his mom and siblings while his father worked in the U.S. As a child, he suffered from asthma and spent a lot of time in the hospital. Despite his physical challenges, he excelled in school and taught himself how to draw and...
Sonia is the youngest of nine children born in a small town in Brazil. When she was a child her father and his uncle were killed by a drunk driver. The tragedy left Sonia's mother with nine children to raise. Her mother had to work incessantly along with several of...
In 1999 Maria completed her bachelor’s degree at the University of Unicerp in Patrocinio, Brazil. During college and after graduation she worked as a teacher and supervisor in the early childhood education field. When given the opportunity to come to the United States...
Viktorija moved to the United States from Latvia and attended high school in a small town outside of Boston. At the age of 18 she moved away from a terrible situation at home and finished out her high school year while staying at different friends' houses. After...
Valentina came to the United States from Colombia. When she arrived the language was foreign, the culture unknown, and the environment vastly different from what she was accustomed to. As she set foot in her new life, she knew she had to start from the bottom,...
Qiaomin is from China, where she attended college before moving to the U.S. in 2019. During the coronavirus pandemic, Qiaomin lost her part-time job and her grandfather was diagnosed with stomach cancer. Being the only family member to speak any English, she took on...
Kherrina is from Kingston, Jamaica – a city known for its vibrant night life and severe economic hardship. Her childhood was not easy. She grew up in a toxic environment, but still managed to be an exemplary student. Her hard work paid off and she was placed in one of...
Diana is from the Dominican Republic where much of the country lives in poverty. She is the first in her family to move to the United States looking for opportunities for a better life. She excelled in academics of all levels in her home country despite the toxic...
Brima is from Sierra Leone, West Africa – a country that has experienced an 11-year civil war, an Ebola virus epidemic, mudslides, flooding, corruption, hunger, and poverty. Brima moved to the United States in 2017 to create a better life for himself and his family....
In 2005 Katia immigrated to the United States from Brazil. She came to the U.S. in order to receive the training and financial backing necessary to achieve her dream of becoming a nurse. Life has been challenging since arriving in the U.S. She works two jobs to...
Yane faced many challenges when she arrived in the United States in 2019. She needed to balance a full-time job, care for her young son, and learning English. In time she was able to get help from the Asian American Civic Association, which allowed her to find work,...
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