Recent graduate and TRIO student Aragsan Ali has been busy. As a parenting student, a member of the Black Student Union, SHE Club and Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society and last month, a QCC graduate who graduated with highest honors, she is an inspiration to many. In fall 2023, she will start at Worcester State University as a nursing and psychology student and said she wants to eventually obtain a master's degree.
"I like taking care of people. I take care of my kids and I've taken care of elders, which is why I want to become a nurse," Aragsan said. "And I like school a lot. If I'm not taking care of my kids, I'm doing school work."
Aragsan is originally from Somalia and came to the United States six years ago. She didn't know any English when she arrived so she enrolled in the English for Speakers of Other Languages program at QCC's Adult Community Learning Center. Her instructor soon noticed her passion for education and recommended she continue at QCC in a credit program.
When she started the General Studies program, she was still nervous about higher education and a friend recommended the TRIO program to her. TRIO is a federally-funded program that offers support services to students who are either first-generation, economically-disadvantaged, or have a disability. TRIO serves 140 students per year and Aragsan was one of 20 TRIO students who graduated this year.
TRIO advisors walked Aragsan through the registration process in a way that taught her how to navigate the process herself when the time came. They also assisted her with financial aid and provided a quiet place to study. She also mentioned that TRIO helped her resolve a conflict with a professor. The guidance that TRIO offered allowed Aragsan to focus on her courses, which helped her to be successful academically.
"TRIO is my favorite thing in the school. I would stop by every day," Aragsan said.
"Aragsan is the definition of what a TRIO Student embodies," said TRIO Counselor Jonathan Moraes. "She is determined, resilient and a leader both in and out of the classroom. One quality that makes Aragsan stand out from her peers is her ability to go the extra mile when helping others. Whether it's recommending certain classes to take, helping with an assignment, or just being there as someone who will listen. Even with all the sacrifices she has had to make in her life to get to where she is today, she still achieves all the goals she has set for herself. As a future RN, Aragsan is going to make countless positive impacts on every patient she sees."
Aragsan lights up when she talks about her children, a seven-year-old son and an eight-year-old daughter. She said even though it's challenging to raise children and go to school at the same time, she loves being a role model for them and can tell they are proud of her.
"I have had some challenges because I'm a single mother and I don't have family here. Sometimes I would struggle to find after-school care for my children and TRIO would help me find child care," she said,adding,"When I do my homework in front of them, they do theirs too. QCC is a good school for parents because there's flexibility, support and great professors."
Her advice to parents considering higher education is to ask for help and find a support system like the TRIO Program.
Visit the TRIO Program contact Gabe Santner at gsantner@qcc.mass.edu.