When Ghena Al-Taleb walks into her Electromechanical Technology classes, she brings more than textbooks. She carries a story that began in her war-torn home country of Syria, continued through a decade of uncertainty in Lebanon, and found hope in Central New York.
Now 24 years old, Al-Taleb arrived with big dreams and the quiet determination to achieve them. "A lot of people on the outside said I couldn't go to college if I didn't speak the language well, but I never stopped studying English."
Once she settled in Syracuse, Al-Taleb attended the SUNY Syracuse Educational Opportunity Center where she completed her GED. It was also there she attended a meeting that OCC Technology Professor Mike Grieb spoke at, telling students about the Micron-related Electromechanical Technology (ELM) degree program. Because of her her love of physics and math, and her passion for learning, ELM sounded like a perfect fit.
In the fall of 2024, Al-Taleb enrolled in OCC's ELM program. Her first two semesters were outstanding, and she earned membership in the college's Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society chapter. "It felt so good to be recognized! We don't have anything like that where I am from. I am so proud. Being in PTK has encouraged me."
It's not just her passion that powers her. There is a team of people on campus supporting Al-Taleb. She's a member of the Collegiate Science and Technology Entry Program, also known as C-STEP. She takes advantage of free tutoring at the Learning Center, and uses the Testing Center for extended exam time as she continues learning English. "I use all of the resources I can. And all of my professors know English is not my original language. They explain more. They give me more time. They understand.”
Al-Taleb will complete her degree next May, and she has big plans for herself. "I hope to work at Micron one day. That is just my first goal, but I will not stop there. I want to become an electromechanical engineer one day."
