"You should go to a community college". This advice changed my life.
I came to the United States five years ago from Bolivia. I always enjoyed school and learning new things, but after high school I had to work full-time to support my family, and my career goals faded into the background. In the movies you often hear how expensive it is to get an education in the United States. Parents spend their entire lives saving money to send their kids to college. When I came to this country I knew that pursuing a college education was out of the question. I believed my destiny was to work hard and try to survive. Then one day someone said to me: ‘You should go to a community college’. This straightforward advice changed my life.
The first time I visited Queensborough I was struck by its beautiful campus, its many attractive buildings and academic study options. But what really filled my heart with hope was learning about available scholarships. I would not have had any chance of attending Queensborough if programs like FAFSA, TAP and ASAP did not exist. It is thanks to these programs that so many people like me have a chance to pursue their ambitions. Scholarships eliminated all of my possible excuses to not get a proper education!
I had wonderful experiences at Queensborough. My professors taught me that dedication and hard work can have a powerful and positive impact in the lives of so many people. And from my ASAP advisors I learned that organization is the key to success. I will be transferring to Queens College next term to major in Accounting. I know in my heart that if my next college is at least a fraction of the college Queensborough is, I will not have any problem achieving my goals and enjoying my path towards a rewarding career and life. Marvin Arce, ’21, A.S., Presidential Awardee
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