By: Manny Harim

When I first started working at UAGC in 2016, I could not have imagined how much this journey would shape both my personal and professional life. At the time, I entered higher education with an associate degree, a strong work ethic, and a genuine passion for helping students succeed. What I did not realize yet was that UAGC would become more than just a workplace; it would become a place that challenged me, developed me, and inspired me to grow into a leader. Over the past several years, I have had the opportunity to grow through multiple roles within Enrollment Services, eventually becoming a Military Admission Specialist. Working closely with military-affiliated students has been one of the most meaningful parts of my career. Every conversation, every student success story, and every challenge reinforced why I chose higher education in the first place: to make a difference in people’s lives. At the same time, I was also working toward my own educational goals.

Balancing full-time work while pursuing higher education was not easy. There were long days, late nights, stressful deadlines, and moments where exhaustion felt overwhelming. Yet through every challenge, I kept reminding myself why I started. I wanted to prove to myself and to others that growth is possible no matter where you begin. As a first-generation college student, earning my degrees has carried a deeper meaning. Education was never just about a title or a diploma for me. It represented resilience, sacrifice, opportunity, and transformation. It represented breaking barriers and creating a future that once felt out of reach. It was for the eight-year-old little girl coming to the U.S. for the first time not knowing a word of English.

Throughout my journey at UAGC, I became involved in initiatives that allowed me to expand beyond my daily role. From Culture of Care initiatives to serving as the Public Relations Officer for the UAGC SVA chapter, I discovered the power of connection, collaboration, and servant leadership. These experiences strengthened my confidence and reinforced my passion for creating meaningful experiences for both students and colleagues. One of the most rewarding aspects of this journey has been realizing that growth does not happen all at once. It happens slowly; through consistency, perseverance, and the willingness to embrace discomfort. There were moments where I doubted myself, moments where balancing work, life, and graduate school felt nearly impossible, but each challenge helped shape the person I am becoming today.

Now, nearly a decade after starting this journey with only an associate degree, I am preparing to walk across the stage on May 31st to receive my master’s degree in psychology from UAGC. That moment represents far more than academic achievement. It represents years of hard work, growth, perseverance, and faith. It represents every obstacle overcome, every late-night assignment completed after work, every opportunity taken, and every person who believed in me along the way. Most importantly, it represents possibility. My journey is proof that where you start does not determine where you finish. With determination, support, and a willingness to keep learning, it is possible to evolve into someone you once only dreamed of becoming. As I prepare for graduation, I am incredibly grateful for the mentors, leaders, colleagues, students, friends, and family members who have supported me throughout this journey. UAGC has not only helped shape my career; it has helped shape me as a person.

And this is only the beginning. The best is yet to come!