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鈥淭his support has made a tremendous difference. When we were figuring out how we would pay, my mom said if I could get help with scholarships and grants, she could pay the rest so I could come here.鈥� 鈥擬arylen Leon

Born in Colombia, Marylen Leon and her family moved to the United States, driven by her mother鈥檚 desire to ensure her daughters received top notch educations. Ms. Leon was nine when she and her family settled in eastern Long Island. Wary of the fact that her new home was nothing like the place where she was born and raised, Ms. Leon resisted acclimating at first. 鈥淚 didn鈥檛 know the language. I didn鈥檛 want to learn the language,鈥� she said.

Her mother encouraged her. Ms. Leon began the third grade in ESL classes. Just three years later she took a proficiency exam, received a good score, and entered [regular classes] with the rest of her classmates.

During her high school years, she worked at the local grocery store in the afternoons and evenings. When it came time to think about college, she already knew that she wanted to go to a school close to home and her family. When she and her mom visited Adelphi, they both liked the University. As Ms. Leon learned more about Adelphi鈥檚 nursing program鈥攏ursing had always been a discipline she was interested in studying鈥攕he was sure it was the school for her. The summer before Adelphi, she volunteered at [Eastern Long Island Hospital] in Greenport, New York to immerse herself in the field.

The financial support Ms. Leon was offered impacted her ability to attend Adelphi. 鈥淢y mom and dad divorced two years ago,鈥� she said. 鈥淢y mom said if she couldn鈥檛 afford tuition, I wasn鈥檛 going to go there. She was not going to let me take out several loans and be in debt as soon as I graduated college.鈥�

鈥淚鈥檝e gotten a lot of help,鈥� says Ms. Leon, who is the recipient of the Long Island Panhellenic Scholarship, institutional and federal grants, and other forms of assistance. 鈥淭his support has made a tremendous difference. When we were figuring out how we would pay, my mom said if I could get help with scholarships and grants, she could pay the rest so I could come here.鈥�

Throughout the week, Ms. Leon is focused on her academics; going to class, doing homework, and studying for exams. A resident student, she makes a two hour drive home every weekend to work and see her family. She has found a balance between her studies and work, earning herself a spot on the Dean鈥檚 List.

A sophomore currently taking informatics, nutrition and pathophysiology among other courses, she is grateful for the education she is receiving. 鈥淚鈥檓 doing something I didn鈥檛 always think I鈥檇 get to do,鈥� she said. 鈥淲e came to America when my mom was a junior in college in Colombia. She didn鈥檛 get to finish her degree, but she came here so my sister and I could.鈥�

鈥淓ducation means everything to her,鈥� Ms. Leon said of her mother, who has clearly instilled her own passion in her daughters. Ms. Leon鈥檚 sister, a biology major, is currently doing research at C.W. Post. Ms. Leon, a nursing major who will be starting her clinical experience in fall 2013, already has aspirations to earn her master鈥檚 degree after she receives her nursing degree from Adelphi.

鈥淲hen I was a senior in high school I鈥檇 think, I don鈥檛 know what I鈥檓 going to do or where I鈥檓 going to go,鈥� she said. 鈥淏ut now that I鈥檓 here at Adelphi I鈥檓 so motivated鈥�I鈥檓 taking nursing classes鈥�my dream is becoming a reality.鈥�

鈥淚 love being at Adelphi,鈥� said Ms. Leon, whose mother is happy to have her at the University too. 鈥淢y mother says, 鈥榳hatever I have to do I鈥檒l do for you to finish here鈥︹�� I鈥檓 really thankful to [get a scholarship and aid]. Any help I can get helps my mom.鈥�

Published March 2013