Ask Luana about the last year and her transition back to education and career planning, and she’s quick to call it a “crazy roller coaster ride.” But it’s a ride and experience she wouldn’t trade.
It’s also a journey she’s proud her two young daughters are seeing firsthand. Luana said she hasn’t always been sure where starting courses with Calbright would lead her or if she should pursue leadership opportunities with Calbright’s student government and a tech internship. But showing her daughters what doors can open up and what is possible when you say “yes!” has driven her to continue her education and improve her family’s quality of life.
“I want my daughters to see there are a lot of opportunities out there when you put the effort in and put yourself out there. There is a lot we can achieve if we study and get an education, and have a community of support,” she said.
Luana says she didn’t imagine being drawn to the fast-paced world of technology when she first chose a skills-based program with Calbright. Living in Silicon Valley, she often wondered if the tech industry was a place for someone like her – a parent and first-generation immigrant. After learning about Calbright from her local library and seeing how the College’s online, flexibly paced and skill-focused programs could fit with her life, she embraced the challenge.
