It's been 20 years since Trinh Ho arrived in Syracuse with nothing but a suitcase, $500, and the dream of rebuilding her life. She was just 11 years old when Hurricane Katrina destroyed her family's home in New Orleans. Originally from Vietnam, she had already experienced the challenges associated with resettling just 5 years earlier. Now, forced to start over again, she moved north with her siblings, seeking refuge with extended family in Syracuse. "My mom didn't speak a wink of English. It was a rough time. It was hard to start all over again and build a life here."
Today, at age 31, Ho is a Nursing student at Onondaga Community College. She's a member of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, recently completed an internship as a student clinical assistant at SUNY Upstate Medical University, and is overjoyed at how the SUNY Reconnect program has impacted her. "It means the world to me. It helps so much financially. I'm able to focus on my career. It opens up a lot of doors for me and creates a sense of relief."
SUNY Reconnect is a new, free community college program for prospective students between the ages of 25 and 55 who have not yet earned a college degree. SUNY Reconnect covers the cost of tuition, fees, books, and supplies after all other financial aid is applied. When New York State Governor Kathy Hochul was rallying support for the program, she came to the Onondaga Community College campus in January 2025. OCC student Josh Barr shared his story - and how much such a program would help him. SUNY Reconnect was approved by the New York State Legislature a few months later.
Ho graduated from Syracuse's Henninger High School in 2013, tried college, but family responsibilities prevented her from continuing. Nearly a decade later, she came to OCC to begin working on her prerequisites for the Nursing program. "I realized I love helping people, connecting with patients, and learning their stories."
She's now in her second semester in Nursing, and on course to complete her degree in December 2027. "My drive through Nursing school is that I just want to help people feel better. And I hope anyone older who reads this will know it's never too late to follow your dreams. My dream was to help people. OCC opened that door for me. You're never too old to try. Don't say you can't do it because everyone can. Trust me."
