Abdukadir Magezi Shuraim had a challenging introduction to life in the United States. He arrived from Uganda in January 2020 with limited English skills, and immediately became a student at Syracuse's Nottingham High School. Two months later, school doors closed and classes became virtual due to…
Abdull Alharbi has finally found a learning environment where he's comfortable and flourishing. "I really like it here. It's a great college."
Alharbi came to the United States from Yemen in 2014, landing in Texas where his father was working as a petroleum engineer. "It was a hard time…
Abdullah Alaawad's parents had a dream for their sons. It was a dream they would need to leave their native Iraq to make come true. "They told me and my two brothers to go to the United States and complete our education. There are a lot of opportunities here for good jobs that pay good…
Compliments from colleagues at work inspired Abi Marin to pursue her passion.
While transcribing phone calls in English and Spanish at the Communication Center for the Deaf, she would often have down time in between calls. She took advantage of her free time by drawing. "My co-workers…
Aiden Knapp is preparing for the chance of a lifetime. One week from today he will begin a paid internship at Micron Technology in Manassas, Virginia. "I'm going to be a technician who troubleshoots equipment. I want to become more engaged in the field I'm pursuing. I see it as a great learning…
Alex Espitia-Casallas spent a decade working as a baker before he decided it was time to do something else. He had attended college immediately after graduating high school in Reno, Nevada and left after one semester. "My first time in college was a total failure. I didn't know what I was doing…
Major: Engineering Science
High School: Vernon-Verona-Sherrill, class of 1994
Twenty-five years after graduating from high school, Alexis Riccardo is in her first semester at Onondaga Community College and loving the experience. The 43-year-old mother is an Engineering Science major and an…
Sobriety turned Alexis Rios's life around. "I wouldn't be back in school, I wouldn't be a trainer, my life would be so different. I don't even think I would be married. Being sober, the people I've met and the stories I've heard, it does not discriminate. It touches so many people. At first you…
Alicia Oberlender was prepared to go directly from West Genesee High School to a four-year college and a science-related major when she began having second thoughts. A week before the start of classes, she decided to step back. "I realized I needed to take a break, focus on myself, and figure…
Allie Elkins has always had a pretty good idea what her career path would be. "My dad works in broadcasting and I used to follow him around race tracks when he did interviews with race car drivers. It was really inspiring. I've known for a good chunk of my life I wanted to go into broadcasting…
Allison Logue discovered Onondaga Community College is the perfect place to figure out what you want to do. The first time she came to OCC was for the Medical Assistant program which she completed and went directly into the workforce. "I tried it out to see where it would take me. I needed…
Degree Programs: American Sign Language, Music
High School: Ogdensburg, class of 2017
A music teacher at Ogdensburg Free Academy changed the course of Alyssa LaComb-Brown's life. She was prepared to drop out of school because she needed to take care of her brothers, but a conversation with…