Violetta

As a young girl, I was raised in Serbia under a Communist Regime where medical care was very poor, particularly for the elderly. At fifteen, I was directly impacted by the country’s weak health care system when I lost my grandfather. The loss impacted my family tremendously. I began to realize that it is not only the sick who are hurt, but also the families and friends that care for them. This experience opened my eyes to the importance of proper medical treatment and pointed me in the direction of Medicine. As a result, I am currently pursuing a career in Mental Health at LaGuardia Community College in Long Island City NY. I believe it is perfect career path for me because I inherently have many nourishing qualities that naturally fit the role of a Counselor. It is the satisfaction that I get from helping others that makes me feel like I am fulfilling my purpose in life.

To put things in perspective, I am the first person in my family to finish High School (with a GED) and the first to attend College. The only family I have left is my mother and my son and I always want them to be proud of me. I am a Honor student and member of Phi Theta Kappa (Honor Society). In the last ten years I have worked with the elderly as a Home Health Aid (HHA), assisting them on a daily basis which has helped me prepare for my career in Health. In addition, I am a single mother and have found great satisfaction having raised my son to be the wonderful person that he is today.

In the future I intend pursuing a Bachelor's Degree and eventually becaming a Behavioral Therapist. I am passionate about anything I do in life: always trying to learn new things, optimistic and positive, striving for success.

As a NYNY Fellow, I am proud to be a member of the New York Need You Fellowship Program. What I hope to gain from this program is valuable experience and knowledge that will help me grow professionally. I want to learn as much as I can so that one day I can be a Mentor Coach myself and help out others with situations similar to mine.