The Power of Education and Opportunity
Getting a college degree is important to me because I’ve learned that education is something nobody can take away from you. Knowledge is a powerful tool you can use to go through life and live a healthy, balanced life. Coming here to the U.S., I feel it’s a dream of opportunity, but at the same time, you really work hard for it and earn it. I’m originally from the Philippines. Visayan and Tagalog are my first languages, and English is my third. I’m even learning Spanish to better connect with patients in healthcare. It’s an important experience that makes patients feel more comfortable when you speak their language.
A Life-Changing Connection through 10,000 Degrees
A 10,000 Degrees moment that really stood out was when I was working in a skilled nursing facility. One of my patients, a donor to 10,000 Degrees, kept encouraging me to apply. I’m a nursing assistant, and I felt, “Oh, I can do better.” I knew there was no age limit to getting an education and achieving your dreams. When my patient died, I said, “Oh, in her memory, I want to make sure I do this.” So I did—I decided to further my education to change my path. I applied to 10,000 Degrees and qualified.
The support from 10,000 Degrees has truly helped me achieve something I didn’t think was possible. It was hard at first because English is my third language, but I challenged myself and made it through. I recently resigned from my job of five years at the skilled nursing facility, because I’m a full-time student and wanted to focus on my degree. I couldn’t have both, so I had to prioritize. I was also a hospice aide and am a death doula myself, which is another certificate I’m proud to achieve.
Education Changes Worlds
I believe in the power of education because it can literally change your world. Education is something that we can all achieve, and no matter how challenging life can be, if you have a goal, you can achieve your dreams. My daughter, Emma, who is also a 10,000 Degrees alum, is proud of me for getting my degree. She was very inspired by me too—she said, “How did my mom do that? I’m going to prove to myself, I can do it too.” Education has no age limit. That’s one thing about America; they don’t judge you based on your age for education. I love College of Marin because it has lots of different ages.