Safia is from Algeria where she obtained her high school diploma along with a certificate in financial accounting. She moved to Boston in May 2015 to seek healthcare, secure a good job, complete her education, and buy a house for her family. After a few years, she took classes in English, customer service, computer skills, hospitality, and early childhood training, aiming for a lasting career with a college credential. In 2021, she joined JVS Boston for various classes, discovering the Biotechnology field by 2023. She decided to pursue a bachelor’s degree in biotechnology for a promising career. Through the Bridges to College program at JVS, she enrolled in the Biotechnology Pathway in 2024, learning about scientific units, molecular biology, chemical reactions, cell biology, and genetics. Grateful for the scholarship from First Literacy, Safia is excited to attend Quincy College and work towards obtaining a biotech certificate and eventually a bachelor’s degree. She is passionate about the biotech field, aspiring to develop new treatments and technologies to improve lives. Despite many challenges, including caring for her two daughters and sick in-laws, she remains determined to achieve her dreams through perseverance.