Victoria immigrated to the US from Nigeria in September 2007.  She came to the Syracuse EOC in the Spring of 2008 with the goal of improving her English.

"I was looking to better my life.  The education I had in my country doesn't count for much here.  I had a job but I lost it.  When that happened, I started at the Jobsplus! program, and they referred me to the Syracuse EOC Bridge program.  From there, my case workers encouraged me to enroll in SEOC classes.

"I started with the Intro to Academics program to help me improve my English.  While working on that, I found out about the SEOC's Certified Nurse Assistant program.  I spoke with my academic counselor, and she said she'd be willing to give me a chance if I got my reading levels up.  I was able to do that, and so I started the CNA program in October 2008.  The course finished in December and I already had three interviews lined up and two job offers!  I started at James Square in January 2009, and I now work there full time. 

"The biggest challenge for me was balancing family, school and work.  But the great staff at the SEOC kept encouraging me, and gave us workshops on time management and stress managment.  I learned how to plan things out, and avoid procrastination.  My instructor, Karen Krassenbaum, was not only a teacher, but a mentor and a mother to me!  She puts everything into what she is doing.  And Tim and Amy [from Bridge] were always there, supporting me and making sure I had the resources I needed.

"Since I was a girl, I wanted to work in the healthcare field so I could help people and make a difference.  It didn't seem like I would ever be able to do that.  Financing it while I was back in Nigeria was impossible.  I feel so fortunate that I found the SEOC.  Now I want to pursue an RN and so I am taking the College Prep classes to help me prepare for nursing school.  My childhood dream might actually come true!"