When Kernsly arrived in the United States from Haiti, he carried determination and hope of building a brighter future for himself and his family. Adjusting to a new country, culture, and educational system each presented unique challenges to Kernsly’s goal of pursuing...
When Damitu first set out to return to school, she felt that it was impossible. Her family is low-income, and as a mother to three young daughters and a part-time Certified Nursing Assistant, balancing financial and personal responsibilities with school was a...
Deborah has always understood the power of education to improve people’s lives and create opportunities. Since moving to the United States, Deborah has held onto her commitment to her education, completing a Certificate in Biotechnology and Good Manufacturing...
From his childhood in Haiti, Jean Carrel recalls his parents instilling in him the values of integrity, responsibility, and education. As a farmer, Jean Carrel’s father embodied the values of hard work and community involvement that Jean Carrel carries with him today....
Monique was born and raised in Boston, Massachusetts, and has always been driven by a deep curiosity about science, technology, and how things work. That passion led her to JVS and the Bridges to College program, where she built the skills and knowledge needed to...
Mamadou was born in a small town in central Guinea called Gongore. It was difficult for his father to financially support his family, so Mamadou learned at an early age that you have to work hard in order to succeed. Eventually he moved to the United States to find...
LaToya is a single mother of four who worked in leadership roles within nonprofit and clinical housing organizations for over fifteen years. As a mother, her focus was always on providing stability to her children, but due to a sudden layoff and a severe work-related...
A proud member of the Haitian community, Kettie graduated from Boston Public Schools Department of Adult Education with dreams of being the first person in her family to attend college. Dedicated to her studies, earning mostly A's and B's, her hard work has led to a...
When Geremias arrived in the United States from Guatemala in March 2022, he carried little more than a suitcase, a dream, and the determination to build a better future. Starting over at age 21 meant adapting to a new language, culture, and education system while...
Sindi grew up in the Dominican Republic, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in education and worked as an elementary school teacher. In her early twenties, she made the life-changing decision to move to the United States. When Sindi arrived in the U.S., she didn’t...
Priscilla is a devoted mother to a 14-year-old daughter and a 5-year-old son. Originally from Brazil, she studied Human Resources before relocating to the United States. Since moving, her experiences have sparked a deep passion for community work. Her dream is to earn...
When Nicolás arrived in the United States, he was determined to build a better life for himself and his family. He knew very little English, but through the support of the teachers and instructors from his ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) program he grew...
Karen was born in the Cape Verde Islands and grew up dreaming of studying law in the United States. Despite her determination, the high cost of international education made that dream feel out of reach. After high school, she worked tirelessly—taking the Test of...
Emani grew up with a deep love for learning. Raised by her grandmother due to her parents’ struggles with addiction, Emani experienced severe instability during her adolescence. She often lacked necessities like food and transportation, which made it difficult to...
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...
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,...
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