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 Maria Maloof.
For years, Maria Maloof felt like she was caught in a cycle she couldn't escape. Customer service jobs paid the bills, but they weren't leading her toward the future she wanted. She knew she was capable of more. She just needed an opportunity to change direction.
That opportunity arrived in 2025 when New York State announced SUNY Reconnect, a tuition-free program that helps eligible adult learners return to community college and prepare for careers in high-demand fields. "I went searching through the available degree programs the day they announced it," Maloof recalled. Today, the 34-year-old East Syracuse Minoa High School graduate is preparing for a career in advanced manufacturing as an Electromechanical Technology major at Onondaga Community College.
Like many students, Maloof enrolled in college shortly after graduating from high school because, as she put it, "it's what you're supposed to do." But without a clear sense of direction, she bounced from class to class before deciding college wasn't the right fit. "I tried a bunch of different classes, but when nothing stuck, I stopped going."
Years later, she found herself ready for another chance. "It came at a perfect time for me," she said of SUNY Reconnect. "I was stuck in a customer service cycle. All of my work history was customer service, and I was looking for a way out. I saw this and jumped on it."
As she explored OCC's academic programs, Maloof narrowed her decision to Electrical Technology (ELT) and Electromechanical Technology (ELM) before ultimately choosing ELM. Courses like robotics, which is an ELM requirement, reinforced that decision. The flexibility to take classes from both programs has broadened her experience.
Returning to the classroom after years away was intimidating at first, but those nerves quickly disappeared. "With Reconnect, I wasn't in a classroom with just 18-year-olds. I was in a classroom with half of the students just out of high school, and half of the students just like me - later in life. It was a nice mismatch. And it made classroom discussions that much more interesting."
Within weeks, she realized she where she was supposed to be. "In the first month, I went from being back in school and not feeling like I belonged, to, 'I'm doing well.' It feels good."
That confidence continued to grow thanks to the encouragement of OCC's faculty. "My instructors have been amazing. There are some I don't have a course with this semester, but I still stay in touch with them - like Professor Colleen Stevens."
One of the defining moments of Maloof's college experience came during a visit to NY CREATES in Albany, where she joined fellow OCC students for a three-day immersion into the world of semiconductor manufacturing. Inside the organization's 300-millimeter silicon wafer fabrication facility - the only non-commercial facility of its kind in North America - students suited up in full cleanroom gear, toured the facility, and experienced firsthand the precision and pace of the semiconductor industry. For Maloof, it was more than just an educational experience. "It was integral. The most important thing was going into a cleanroom, wearing a 'bunny suit,' and learning I enjoyed it without the pressure of, 'I just got my degree, I just got a job, and I don't enjoy it.'"
This summer, Maloof took another step in her journey by working with middle school students during OCC's Micron Chip Camp, helping introduce young learners to robotics, soldering, and other hands-on STEM activities. "It was exciting! There were instances when you had to pivot because things don't go as they should. It was educational learning how to actively troubleshoot problems while working with sixth graders."
Looking back, Maloof says returning to college wasn't nearly as intimidating as she imagined. Looking ahead, she hopes others who have wondered whether it's too late to start over will give themselves the same opportunity she gave herself. "You are capable of anything you set your mind to. Don't start thinking you are too old or you can't do this. You can do it!"
