ing to get a ‘C.’ ” But Chris Roxas, 20, who is finishing
two associate’s degrees at NOVA and will attend George Mason next fall, said community colleges’ reputation as plac- es that take everyone — even those who are struggling and less motivated — is accurate but not necessarily a negative. “It’s a place where some students can get a second chance, but you don’t get a free ride. You still have to work hard.”
One February afternoon, on a break
between classes at NOVA, Shah was greeted at home by her mother, father, twin teenage sisters and a pack of tod- dler-aged nieces and nephews. Her four older brothers and their wives and chil- dren also share the home in what Shah describes as a joint family — a traditional Pakistani living arrangement. Sitting in the spotless living room
decorated with woven carpets and framed verses of the Koran in Arabic on the walls, Shah spoke Urdu, asking her parents how they feel about her attending NOVA. Her mother, Farhat, a tiny, vivacious woman with a twinkle in her eye, adjusted her brown flowered headscarf and talked about the impor- tance of education, saying she was a teacher in Pakistan. But Shah’s father, Jalal, who worked in law enforcement in Pakistan and is now retired after years as a security guard in the United States, described his daughter as “kind of stubborn” and said she learned a tough financial lesson when she went to Westwood. “When I told you not to do it, you shouldn’t have done it,” Shah translated. Both said they’re pleased with their
daughter’s progress at NOVA. “She’s a good girl,” Shah translated for her mother. “Education is a weapon you can use against anything. You can stand up for yourself in any debate.” Shah chalks up her missteps to expe-
rience. “The mistakes I made were actu- ally lessons learned. They aren’t going to hurt me in the end,” she said. “In fact, I ended well.”
Michelle R. Davis, a freelance education writer, last wrote for the Magazine about the Milton Hershey School. She can be reached at wpmagazine@ washpost.com.
“This fits my
life.”
The Education Department at Prince Geo Community College offers a variety of education programs that will transfer to any Maryland college or university. You can com plete field experiences in local schools and work toward your Associate of Arts in Teaching degree in one of these areas—Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics, English, Spanish, Elementary, Early Childhood and Special Education.
The Education Depar
www.pgcc.edu or
at Prince George’s’s
You can do this!
With five locations and more than 200 academic and workforce development programs, Prince George’s Community College offers excellence and affordability.
301- 341- 3011
There’s never been a more exciting time to pursue a career
in the sciences! Located minutes from the nation’s capital, George Mason University’s College of Science offers the hands-on experience you need to succeed.
achieve.cos.gmu.edu
The College offers…
• Graduate and undergraduate programs in Forensic Science that provide advanced training and real-world experience in this exciting field
• Graduate certification in Advanced Biomedical Science (in partnership with Georgetown University) that prepares students for careers in medical science
College of Science
Where Innovation Is Tradition
• Undergraduate and graduate programs in Environmental Science, Conservation, and Sustainability that provide new opportunities in these fast-growing fields
• Plus many other programs!
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