Daniela Circons

Broward College Offers a Second Chance

Aysheh Abdalhuk

Aysheh's story is one of triumph. The underprivileged Palestinian girl arrived in the United States more than 30 years ago at the age of 16 for a pre-arranged marriage. The practice was customary in her country. The marriage was abusive and the young woman soon found herself divorced and alone. Aysheh quickly had to learn to stand on her own two feet. She had herself English and tried several times to go back to school. She found college difficult and dropped out several times. She wasn't aware at the time but she had a learning disability.

Aysheh remarried and had children. While in elementary school, her youngest son was diagnosed with a learning disability. "I gave up on pursuing any studies and stayed home to help him," she said. "We are from a culture where the husband provides financially and we were very comfortable but his education was solely my responsibility."

When he got older, she decided to go back to college and this time she was determined. She completed her Associate of Arts with a concentration in business but admits it took years.  Motivated by the challenges her son faced, Aysheh decided to pursue a bachelor's degree in Special Education. "Just remembering how he suffered. We all suffered. I understand how the children feel but also the parents."

Finally, she had found her calling.  Luckily for her, that's not how the story ends. While doing a course in Exceptional Student Education (ESE) Aysheh turned in a paper to Professor Kelly Walker that would change her life. "I used to write my papers and give it to my older son who was a freshman in college to proofread. Then I would pay a second person to proofread it again before submitting it because I knew my writing was very poor," she explained.  By error, she turned in a draft to Professor Walker that had not been proofed by anyone. After reading the paper Professor Walker realized that Aysheh had dyslexia and encouraged her to get tested. She was reluctant at first, as she wasn't sure she would get help at her age.

The tests confirmed her dyslexia and through assistance from Professor Walker, Aysheh, and her son were enrolled in a special reading program. Their reading and writing skills improved immensely. It took Aysheh eight years to complete her bachelor's degree but it's a proud moment for her and her family. She currently works as a paraprofessional for children with special needs. Her advice "No matter what, don't give up." 

If teaching is your passion, explore your options through our Education programs.

Patricia Davis and Kenneth McCray– Mother and Son Graduate Together

Patricia Davis and her son Kenneth McCray have had to overcome adversity their whole lives. In 1999, at the age of six, Kenneth's father died from an undetected aneurysm.  Being a single parent was hard enough when things took a turn for the worse in 2005. Patricia was diagnosed with a rare form of lymphoma that required aggressive chemotherapy.  After receiving her third round of the treatment, Patricia fell into a coma for four days.  When she regained consciousness she had to re-learn basic life skills such as the ability to walk and to speak.   As the family always pulls together, young Kenneth barely a teenager, focused on taking care of his mother. He put everything else in his life on hold. Together, this mother and son team were able to bring Patricia back to health.  And, even though she was in chronic pain, Patricia was able to begin work in a local office, and it appeared the worst was behind them. 

Then, in 2012, Patricia's office closed and a year later Patricia and Kenneth were homeless. They struggled to find a permanent place to live for two years but even this experience didn't deter this mother and son team from achieving their goals.  In 2015, Patricia transferred to Broward College to attend school with Kenneth who had started his associate degree there. 

For Patricia, now 51, earning her Associate of Science in Criminal Justice is an important "bucket list" item for her and represents the hard work it has taken to get to this point in her life.  And for 25-year-old Kenneth, graduating with his mom is very special to him and makes his graduation with an AA in Computer Science all the more rewarding.  Patricia and Kenneth are excited about Kenneth's move to Kissimmee where he will continue his bachelor’s degree studies and look forward to what the future holds for them both!

Learn more about a degree in Criminal Justice or Computer Science programs.

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Christina Zamor

Christine Zamor is graduating with her Associate of Arts.  But, while most of us think of graduation as the culmination of a student’s education, this 30-year-old looks at it as only the first step!

Originally from New York, but now residing in Fort Lauderdale, Christina works in a group home with developmentally disabled adults and loves her job.  She wanted to complete her AA degree not only to achieve a personal goal, but also to provide the best possible care for her patients. Unfortunately, there were two obstacles in her way. First of all, Christina didn’t think she could afford to go back to school. Second, Christina was afraid that even if she could afford it, she wouldn’t be successful since she had attended school before and Anatomy and Physiology class had been so difficult. She decided not to give up and resolved pursue her dream.

After doing some research, Christina found Broward College, and, at that point, everything changed.  She was awarded the American Dream Scholarship and was able to go back to school.  In addition, Christina went from receiving D’s to A’s in the classes that had been so difficult for her in the past.  She says that the dedication and skill of her professors as what made the difference, adding “… my instructors were amazing. I still go back and visit with them.”

Now, empowered by her success, and driven by her passion to help others, Christina has decided to take the next step and pursue her nursing degree. Christina knows this will not only help her care for a wider spectrum of people with diverse needs, but also move her career forward as well. 

Find out more about how to get your Associate of Arts degree.

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by Daniela Circons

Against the Odds – Minority Male Uses His Experience to Support His Peers

Darnel Joseph

Darnel attributes his success to sheer resilience. The 21 year old is graduating with his Associate of Arts after three years. Broward College was not Darnel’s first choice. A high academic achiever and student leader in high school, he received an offer to attend the University of Florida. Excited, he accepted the offer but it was not until he and his mother arrived in Gainesville that he realized that the financial aid offered would not nearly be enough to offset the cost of tuition and housing.

Luckily for him, he had accepted the advice of Broward College representatives who visited in high school in his senior year and had applied to the institution. He was immediately offered the Irmgard Bocchino Freshmen Scholarship (IRMS). His tuition and books were fully covered for his entire first year.

However, coming from single family home where his mother was the sole provider, Darnel needed to find ways he could assist. In addition to several leadership roles at the Robert “Bob” Elmore Honors College, he was juggling a 20 hour work study job at the College and working the same amount of hours in a popular retail store. “Though I was doing well in my extracurricular activities, I struggled with balancing my academic performance.  During my sophomore year, my household experienced some financial instability which pressured me to work about 40 hours per week and attend school full time. With the stress of work, school, and other personal problems my academics performance declined over the next three semesters.”

 His grades suffered and he fell behind. Soon, Darnel lost his scholarships and eligibility for Financial Aid.  It was stressful but he was undaunted. “Failure was not an option,” he said. “Education is the only way to move ahead. He paused as he recalled how difficult it was to press ahead but the smile that followed spoke volumes of triumph even before he continued. “I did not give up faith or lose momentum, I've paid for my last three semesters out of pocket by working and with some help from my family and friends, who I have now paid back and owe no debt to!”

Darnel’s experience motivated him to become a peer counsellor with the Broward College Minority Male initiative. A program to help young men of color who are at risk stay on track with their academic goals. “My experience is familiar to one too many minority males, but unfortunately many are not able to persist in their education like I have due to barriers. Although my academic journey at Broward has come to a close, my work with MMI has just begun and I plan on being a mentor to students who are experiencing similar barriers and are unsure of what to do next.”

Darnel’s other accomplishments include being elected Honors Student Committee President from 2015-2016. In 2016 he was  awarded Seahawk Outstanding Leadership Award (2016), selected to introduce Hillary Clinton to Broward College during her election campaign rally at Broward College and a member of the 2017 Broward College 2017 Hackathon  winning team in the "Code for a Cause" category.

Darnel is moving on to pursue a bachelor’s degree in computer science this fall. His desire is to work in the creation of artificial intelligence that assists people with learning disabilities.

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by Daniela Circons

Meet our Young Achievers - Spring 2018 Graduation Profiles

Mardwina Lasseur  

Mardwina Lasseur is an impressive young woman. At 19, she has accomplished many firsts, including being the first in her family to graduate from college.  

Currently living in Miramar, Florida, Mardwina has achieved a 3.94 GPA and is receiving her Associate of Arts with a concentration in pre-nursing.  She plans to continue pursuing her degree through transfer to the   University of Florida (UF) or Florida International University (FIU)  in the fall.  Although these achievements are certainly impressive, they are not the whole story.  

Mardwina was one of only six awardees selected from across the United States to participate in the DREAM 2018 conference in Nashville, Tennessee.  This conference brought together more than 2,300 higher education leaders, policy-makers, thought leaders, and exceptional students with the goal of empowering community college students to have better economic opportunities and achieve their dreams. When remembering her conference experience, Mardwina said, “I discovered the diligent efforts being made by Achieving the Dream, and its member institutions, to bridge the success gap between traditional students and underrepresented students, such as students of color, low-income students, and first-generation college students.”  No doubt, this conference was particularly meaningful to Mardwina who wasn’t sure how she would pursue post-secondary education due to her family’s financial constraints.

During her two years at Broward, College Mardwina was an Honors Scholarship recipient, She explained that she probably wouldn’t have been able to attend Broward College without it. Even with scholarships, she has had to work part-time to help with personal needs. All this while attending classes and volunteering at Memorial Regional Hospital.

When asked what made her college experience successful, Mardwina said, in addition to her scholarship, being in the Honors Institute program was an enormous help.  It not only aided her in figuring out how to complete rigorous coursework but provided her with the necessary resources to excel in higher education.   She said, “I would encourage any student who is academically driven and desires fellowship with peers who have similar motivations to consider joining the Honors Institute at Broward College.  Believe me, their assistance can help you achieve the dream.”

 

Kezia Moros-Achong

Kezia Moros-Achong was born in Miami and currently lives in Sunrise, Florida. On May 8, she will be a third generation college graduate. The witty 19-year old speaks with enthusiasm and passion when she recalls her time at Broward College. “This is home, this is family.” This institution is somewhat of a family tradition as her sister and four cousins earned their degrees here. So, when Kezia needed to decide where to start her college education, the decision was easy.

She was able to skip her senior year at Coral Glades High School to enroll early at Broward College.   As a recipient of the Broward College IRM Scholarship Kezia said, “…the scholarship really helped a lot with books and tuition.” This allowed her to focus all her attention on her studies.  Some of Kezia’s most memorable experiences at Broward College include attending the Disney Youth Education Series (YES) program where she learned a lot about leadership, teamwork and work culture.  She was also was very active in student organizations such as the Honors Student Committee where she served as the public relations officer.

“Student involvement is key,” she said as we caught up with her at the recent Honors College Awards ceremony where she received multiple prizes for student involvement and academic achievements including multidisciplinary studies and being named to Kezia was also named to the 2018 All-USA Academic Team.   With her grades, Kezia explained she could have transferred to a university after one year but treasured the support she received at the College. “The attention and dedication I received from the staff and faculty and Broward College motivated me more than I expected. Special thanks to Dr. Lulric Balzora, Professors Kaya Hamer-Small, and Kiesha King.”

Kezia is receiving her Associate of Arts and graduating as a member of Phi Beta Kappa. She is looking forward to pursuing studies in law and has already been accepted to Drexel University, Boston University, the University of Tampa and Florida International University. She is waiting to hear from ivy-league institutions such as University of Pennsylvania and Columbia University before making her final decision for the fall.

Brandon Saridjo

He’s small in stature but Brandon’s personality is described as larger than life. Those who know him think he could easily be declared the poster student of the Robert “Bob” Elmore Honors College. During his time at the College Brandon could be found at several College events including co-hosting the recent April Fireside Chat on Central Campus with the legendary Dan Rather.  The 20-year-old, South Florida native whose parents are originally from Suriname brings a positive attitude to everything he does.

  In high school, Brandon was in the top eight percent of his class. Having worked hard, he applied to the Univerity of South Florida (USF), the University of Florida and Florida International University, however, his standardized test scores weren’t within range, and he wasn’t accepted. Brandon was devastated. Then a friend told him about the Robert Elmore Honors Institute at Broward College and, with a broad smile Brandon said, “…my disappointment turned into a blessing in disguise.”

It was a political science class during his first semester that sparked Brandon’s interest in the field. Joining the Honors Institute also gave focus and purpose to his political passion while feeding his drive to make a difference in the world.  Brandon joined the Model United Nations (MUN) team and traveled to many cities including the UN headquarters in New York.  Brandon said this visit was a turning point in his life “I feel like my purpose in the world is to work at an organization to develop peace, human rights, and sustainable living.”

Brandon is receiving his Associate of Arts and has been accepted to the University of Florida to pursue a bachelors degree in international relations. His ultimate goal is to work for the United Nations. We can all learn from Brandon’s dedication to excellence and making the world a better place for all.  As Brandon is fond of saying, “Everyone has something to contribute to the world; you just have to find it. Everyone has a penny to put in the pot; you just have to find out what you want to dedicate that penny to…” and do it.

 

Jadd Ahmad 

“I have never been surrounded by such a diverse group of students. I had the opportunity to meet people from different backgrounds, learn from their challenges and experiences and they learned from mine,” explained Jadd. The soft-spoken 22-year-old is a Palestinian American Muslim who has done exceptionally well in his academic studies.   Jadd, who boasted a 3.91 GPA when we spoke to him a few weeks before graduation was named a 2018 Jack Kent Cooke semifinalist. However, what is most impressive is his dedication to service and the community. His involvement includes a feeding program for the homeless in downtown Ft. Lauderdale, the Minority Male Initiative, a program aimed at helping young men of color achieve their academic dream and his work with the Muslim Student Association.

Jadd always wanted to be involved and that drive was strengthened when he served as treasurer of the Muslim Student Association. “This is where I came to the realization of the struggles of minority students. It made me want to work to break boundaries and common misconceptions of different race groups and bring the student body together to have a better understanding of each other.”

Jadd said being a part of the Robert “Bob” Elmore Honors College has impacted not only his academic achievements but his character. He fondly recalled how his involvement in the Model United Nation (MUN) helped him overcome his fear of public speaking. “Who knew that I would have the confidence to address a committee of over 80 people from carrying nationalities and background about issues impacting the world,” he said with a proud smile.

In addition to graduating with Associate of Arts, Brad said he will leave Broward College with a wealth of experience. “The Honors College adopted me when I thought I was not qualified to do any of the things I have achieved. It has provided me with a family and lifelong friends that are committed to making their mark on the world, and that is the greatest honor of them all.”

It’s been no easy feat to get to this stage for Jadd, he has three other siblings and has had to face a number of financial hurdles to complete his degree.  “I don’t know how I could have completed my goals without the scholarships.” Jadd will move on to Florida International University in the fall as he continues his journey to becoming a biomedical engineer.

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by Daniela Circons