When Bilsan Aldaher first came to Onondaga Community College, she was looking for more than a place to take classes. She was looking for a community.
A native of Damascus, Syria, Aldaher came to the United States with her parents and three siblings in October 2017. When it came time to choose a college, she kept hearing about OCC from friends who had attended before her. “They would tell me about how you feel you belong, that there are lots of events, the diversity, the community. It was everything I was looking for."
Aldaher came to OCC in the fall 2024 after graduating high school, and found that sense of belonging and much more. While majoring in Mathematics & Science, she became an officer in the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, participated in CSTEP and TRIO, and recently volunteered at the College’s Unity Day celebration.
She also found support that helped her navigate college and discover a new direction for her future. When Aldaher first arrived at OCC, her goal was to become an X-ray technician. But as she explored her interests, her plans changed. “I was like, ‘Girl, if you’re going to do something in the medical field, go big! Go deeper!’” She began researching graduate programs and discovered the Physician Assistant profession. “I thought it would be a better idea for me."
Aldaher credits much of her success at OCC to the people who supported her along the way, particularly Student Success Navigator Maria Malagisi. “She’s helped me with so many things - planning my courses, she keeps me on track, she helps with financial aid. She was always there. She was really patient with me when I would change my mind about things.”
That support from Malagisi and others has given her an invaluable sense of support. "I feel I belonged here. I felt comfortable. I performed well because I was comfortable here."
Aldaher will graduate in December, then transfer to Le Moyne College, where she will major in Biology as she works toward her goal of becoming a Physician’s Assistant. But saying good bye to OCC will not be easy. “It’s hard to leave,” Aldaher said, fighting back tears. “It’s been a great place. I’m the kind of person who, when I get used to something, I don’t want to leave it. There are great people there who are always willing to help you."
And now, as she prepares to move on, Aldaher hopes other students will see community college the way she came to see OCC: not as a lesser choice, but as a place where students can find the support and opportunity to determine their own path. “I want to tell people it’s not shameful to come to a community college. I used to hear a lot of that kind of talk around me. I learned it depends on you, not the place.”
