Watch Sultana's Graduate Spotlight
What are your plans after graduating?
I am planning on attending a four-year college or university.
Why did you choose Atlantic Cape?
After emigrating to the United States, I decided to pursue my education and I found the best option to start with was Atlantic Cape Community College.
What opportunities has Atlantic Cape provided you?
Atlantic Cape has given me a lot of opportunities, such as helping me pursue my education without any out-of-pocket cost, with food when I was hungry, to work on my leadership skills, to create personal and professional connections that will help me in the long run.
What activities, clubs or sports were you involved with during your time at Atlantic Cape?
I was the president of the Cross-Cultural Association, president of the Muslim Student Association, and president of the Student Government Association. I was also part of the Archery team as well.
Describe the biggest challenge(s) you faced and how you overcame it/them.
My first language is not English, so when I first came to the United States, I had a difficult time understanding others and communicating. So, I started taking the ESL (English as Second Language) program and I gradually improved. Eventually, I overcame my fear of speaking up and became a student leader, who can advocate for other students.
Did you attend classes in-person, online, hybrid or remote?
In-person, online and remote.
Who would you like to thank for helping you achieve your college or career goals?
I want to thank a couple people who helped me on this beautiful journey at Atlantic Cape. I want start with Ms. Gwen McIntyre, who was my ESL professor. She was not just a professor. She was a mentor who taught me how to present myself in front of others and has prepared me for the real world. I want to thank my professors Richard Perello, Effie Russell, Rich Russell, Chris Olmeda and Chris Carbone who taught me to believe in myself and how to succeed academically. I want to thank Lisa Givens, who influenced me so much, taught me professionalism and to get up whenever I was down. I can’t express in words how much she helped me during my time with Student Government. She was like a mother to me and shaped nearly every thread of my leadership skills. Joelle Motley for being a friend who I looked up to. I also want to thank all of my friends who helped me every moment, Haniyah Bey, Sahman Sakib, Badrul Ruhin, Oussaynu Dia, Sara One, Juwan Torres and so many more.
What does graduating from Atlantic Cape mean to you?
It means a lot to me. As I am a first-generation student, I am proud to be a graduate of Atlantic Cape and I am happy to make my parents proud.