When Maria B. arrived in the United States from the Dominican Republic at 19, she carried a four-month-old daughter and big dreams for education. Life, however, had other plans. Despite building an impressive 30-year career in accounting, Maria still felt something was missing. "Even though I had the experience, I didn't have the piece of paper," she explains, describing the motivation behind her decision to pursue a Bachelor's in Accounting at Champlain College Online (CCO).
As a non-native English speaker who raised four children as a single mother, Maria faced significant barriers to education. Yet, CCO's supportive environment helped her turn these challenges into strengths. "The school has a lot of resources for non-English speaking natives," Maria shares. "The language is not a barrier anymore. On the contrary, you should be proud that you can speak two languages and be fluent." Now preparing to pursue her master's degree, Maria's story exemplifies determination and resilience. Her message to others facing similar challenges? "We did it and there's nothing in this world that you cannot do. Yes, there's going to be obstacles... But at the end of the day, you have to believe in yourself."
