As a newly single mother of five children and halfway through my schooling, I was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer. I still managed to work, take care of my family, and graduate with honors even while on chemo. I chose HCC because I have always heard wonderful things about HCC and their staff. I was fortunate enough to work for an employer that offered tuition reimbursement. I never thought I would graduate from college. However, with the support of my employer and my professors, I was able to graduate and I will soon receive my Bachelor’s degree from USF with a concentration on Leadership and Change Management. I plan to continue my education and pursue my Master’s degree. Many professors helped me along my journey, especially Professor Gina Yaquinto. She was always very supportive and encouraging her students.
Attending HCC has not only changed my life but improved my life. I went from working in a contact center to having a core role in Human Resources on our Organizational Development team. I am the first person in my family to graduate from college and I am paving the road for my children to also go to college. I was really intimidated when I enrolled in college. I was in my mid-thirties and had not been in school in nearly 20 years. At HCC I was able to get a firm understanding of my courses and establish a support system with my peers. The small classroom sizes, personalized attention, and the affordable tuition also helped me in achieving my goals. I would recommend HCC for all learners but especially our adult learners. My oldest son will graduate from high school next year and will also attend HCC, just like I did, and I couldn’t be more proud.
Attending HCC allowed me to advance my career, and now I help guide my coworkers as they further their education at HCC as well. I am now enrolled at USF studying for my BA in Business Administration with a concentration on Leadership and Change Management.