In 1999 I left South Africa and came to America to make a better life for myself by driving 18-wheelers country-wide. I knew America was the place I wanted to be. My dream came true when I met the man of my dreams who was serving his country in the US Army 3rd Special Forces Group.

I never had the opportunity to study when I was younger, so I enrolled at FTCC to pursue an Associate in Science. My husband's been deployed several times leaving me in charge of two young children, the house, and studying. My 2-year degree has taken 3 years to complete. There have been some obstacles: the news that my husband was hit by an lED, no nearby family or close friends, and living in a country foreign to my birth. I have managed to keep going. As the saying goes, "slowly and steady wins the race."

I'll graduate in May 2016 with a 3.8 GPA. I have enrolled in the Surgical Technician program at FTCC to continue the rewarding benefits of studying and enlightening my mind. As Confucius once said, "It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop."