Student Spotlight: Barbara Garay

Barbara Garay did not want to live her life wondering "what if?" So she decided to go back to school in 2008.

"A friend of mine recommended College of DuPage, so I began looking into attending and immediately applied," she said. "College of DuPage has flexible class schedules that I needed. Being a mom and trying to juggle that with working, COD was the perfect fit."

Garay was accepted in the Associate Degree Nursing program and will graduate in 2012. In fall 2010, she received both the DuPage County Health Improvement Association Scholarship and the Returning Adult Scholarship. "The scholarships from the College of DuPage Foundation have made the impossible a reality," she said. "Without them, I don't think I would be where I am right now and doing as well as I am. It has given me the encouragement to continue to work hard and achieve my goals. I feel like I can be an example to my children on the importance of getting an education!"

Garay's goals after graduation is to pass her licensure exam and find a job, after which she would like to pursue a bachelor's degree. She also would like to focus on working in public health and one day travel on missions to other countries.

"I'm glad I made the decision to go back to school at College of DuPage and pursue my dream of becoming a nurse," she said. "I will be the first in my family to graduate from college. The last few years have been quite the experience!"

More about the Nursing program