May 8, 2026
By Bethany Ranero
Editor
As I prepare to embark on my college journey, I reflect on my experiences watching my mom work toward her bachelor’s degree and graduate.
For her, it all started when she was getting an associate’s degree in culinary arts at Valencia Community College in Orlando, Florida, with the dream of opening her own restaurant. With only half a year left to go, she got pregnant with me and decided it was best to take some time off from college to find a full-time job, allowing her to work regular hours that are rare in the restaurant industry.
At that point, my mom got a job at a car mechanic shop, where she was responsible for scheduling and estimating car repairs. She stopped working there after she gave birth to me, and at the time, my dad was supporting us financially.
When I was about a year old, my mom left an abusive relationship with my father, which led her to raise me on her own. She then started working at an apartment complex as a sales associate.
When I was 4 years old, she got into a bad car accident that caused her to be out of work for about two years.
My mom faced mobility issues because of the accident, and once she was feeling better, she took on a job at a daycare center. Realizing her passion for working with kids, she returned to Valencia Community College on a part-time basis to pursue an associate’s degree in education in 2015.
My mom was always good with children, and she volunteered at my sports and other activities, so teaching seemed like a good fit.
I know the next phase of my academic career won’t be easy, but seeing how my mom has made it through all the challenges she’s faced gives me confidence.
However, when Covid-19 hit and schools closed, she realized she could not pay for all of my needs and activities on a teacher’s salary, so she left her program to pursue an online bachelor’s degree in business from the University of Phoenix.
The following spring, we moved to Lyndhurst for a fresh start and to be near family. Unfortunately, Covid-19 was still a major threat, and finding work was nearly impossible. After about three months, my mom was finally hired for the job she now holds as an accountant at Omega Environmental, a company that performs hazardous material assessments and offers mediation services.
My mom continued working toward her business degree part-time and finally graduated in spring 2025.
She has always been someone who empowered me to conquer any obstacle that came my way. Even as high school hit and my grades declined, she never gave up on me.
Outside of school, my mom has always pushed me to try new things, whether that was joining clubs or doing community work. She is the reason I joined Girl Scouts, and I am now the vice president of the Emerald Archers Club, which is run through 4-H. I couldn’t be more thankful for her guidance. I’ve made so many new friends and have had so many opportunities through these organizations.
While my mom had a lot of ups and downs getting to where she is today, she’s inspired me so much, and I couldn’t be more proud of her. I know the next phase of my academic career won’t be easy, but seeing how my mom has made it through all the challenges she’s faced gives me confidence.
My mom has always pushed me to make something of myself, and that is what I intend to do as a business major at Fairleigh Dickinson University at the Florham Campus in Madison. I know I can succeed no matter the obstacles that come my way because I have my mom as an example.
