Every Friday during the fall semester, our "Start Here, Anytime" series will spotlight an adult learner who chose to come to Onondaga Community College to pursue new opportunities, new goals, and a new chapter in life. Today, meet Irielle Mwija.
As a young girl growing up in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Irielle Mwija admired her father's work. She dreamed of one day following in his footsteps. But in her country, she says, that career simply wasn't considered an option for women. "I grew up in a family where my father was an electronic technician. I didn't get a chance to learn more about that field because it wasn't 'for a woman,'" Mwija said.
Years later, and half a world away, that childhood dream is finally becoming reality. Mwija immigrated to the United States in 2020 and enrolled at Onondaga Community College in the fall of 2024 after learning about the College through a local bridge program. Although she already held a bachelor's degree in Financial Management from her home country, she chose a completely different path at OCC: Electromechanical Technology.
"When I heard about going into this at OCC, I said, 'Bingo!' This was a dream for me when I was so young, but I didn't get a chance until the chance came to me. I can still do it and show my kids that no matter your age, you can still achieve."
Her decision even surprised her father. "When I told my father what I was going to study here, he said, 'What? You're supposed to be working in a financial field.' I told him, 'Papa, I liked what you did, and it's what I want to do.' He said, 'Okay. If it's what you want and you have the chance to do it, go ahead.'"
Now 32 and the mother of three boys ages 8, 5, and 3, Mwija expects to graduate from OCC in December 2026. Along the way, she has discovered a network of support that has helped her succeed.
Through the Collegiate Science and Technology Entry Program (CSTEP), she found mentors who encouraged her every step of the way. "They mentor me. They help me a lot. Kim (Student Navigator Kim Paduano) is always there to help me with whatever I need."
She has also received scholarships from the OCC Foundation, Zonta Women in Transition, the American Association of Women in Community Colleges, and was a Meg O'Connell Social Justice Scholar.
Several faculty and staff members have also made a lasting impact. "Professor Colleen Stevens is the person who helps me love going to school again. She has been very available for me and always helpful. Professor Gino Duca has been very helpful. And Julie Ende (OCC Career Specialist) helped me get skills in manufacturing because she connected me with an internship opportunity at NY CREATES in Albany. I was privileged to work in a vacuum chamber and a cleanroom."
While Mwija is building a new career, she's also setting an example for her sons. "I think it's inspiration for them. They see me doing my homework, and they can twin me and we do homework together."
Looking back, Mwija sees Onondaga Community College as the place that allowed her to pursue a dream she thought had passed her by. "OCC is a great opportunity for my future. It's an open door that has helped me to bust through."
