When Aya Altaleb enrolled at Onondaga Community College, she carried more than books and ambition. She also carried years of discouragement, disbelief, and doubt from people around her. She's a native of Syria who graduated high school in Lebanon, and was told repeatedly her diploma would be "worthless in the United States." She would need to "throw it in the trash and start over." And that "you will never succeed simply because you are a mother."
But Altaleb didn't listen. "I proved them wrong," she said, with a quiet sense of pride.
Her motivation, from the beginning, has been her mother. "She is sick, and it has always been her dream to see me become a doctor. I carry that dream with me every day, and I will never stop until I make it come true for her and myself."
Her first step towards becoming a doctor was to enroll in OCC's Mathematics & Science degree program. "I'm deeply thankful to OCC's faculty, staff, and everyone who supported and encouraged me. Their belief in me made a real difference."
Next month, she will participate in OCC's December commencement ceremony and receive her degree. Altaleb has a message for future international students like herself: "Don't let anyone, especially those closest to you, convince you your dreams are impossible. You came here with strength, with knowledge, and with a dream. Hold onto that dream. Whether you’re balancing school with family responsibilities, learning a new language, or adjusting to a new culture, your journey is powerful, and your goals are valid. Believe in yourself. Keep going. Your story is just beginning, and it’s going to be amazing."
