Meet Mariely Maldonado: An Early Childhood Education Alumna from Urban College
“El cielo ya no es un limite” - How Mariely became a family care business owner
Meet Mariely Maldonado, an Urban College Early Childhood Education Alumna! Her educational journey began when a former boss suggested she take classes at Urban College, a decision that ultimately led her to starting her own family childcare center.
She decided to attend Urban College for two core reasons: the opportunity to take classes in Spanish while learning English, and the flexibility of the course schedule.
She wanted flexible night and weekend classes, and the option to take courses at her own pace.
The flexible approach of education was empowering. She was able to stay focused and tailor her learning journey to her own needs to achieve her goals. Life continues outside of the classroom, and education should be manageable.
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Asynchronous Online Courses: Learn on your own time, accessing lectures, readings and assignments without scheduled live classes.
Hybrid Online Courses: A blend of asynchronous lectures and assignments with mandatory weekly live class sessions with your professor and classmates
Flex Online Courses: A blend of asynchronous lectures and assignments with optional but encouraged weekly synchronous meetings to enhance your learning experience.
While starting at Urban College, Mariely was working as an assistant in the infant room of a daycare, a job she fell in love with instantly.
She was nervous to earn her Early Childhood Education degree at Urban College. She was working towards a new career, in a new country, and learning a new language.
But, luckily, she discovered that she wasn’t alone on her journey. She had peers also pursuing their dreams alongside her, and faculty and staff to help guide her along the way. The confidence that the Urban College community instilled in her sticks with her to this day.
“Urban College provided me an outstanding and enriching experience, fostering a welcoming atmosphere where every participant felt not only embraced but valued and respected for their unique contributions. This was so important to me as I was coming into a new learning environment... [Urban College’s] commitment to student success was evident in their personalized approach, making a significant impact on my student journey.”
The ability to start her education in Spanish helped her feel comfortable to gradually learn English and comprehend her various study topics. The bi-lingual framework improved her overall ability to learn and made her education more fulfilling.
“I have been passionately endorsing Urban College to others... the vibrant atmosphere, dedicated faculty and diverse student body create an enriching experience that I believe everyone should have the opportunity to enjoy.”
Today, she runs her own family childcare business. She attributes her willingness to take that leap to a lesson she learned at Urban College: to embrace the unknown.
Uncertainty is a chance for growth, and while it can be nerve-wracking, it shouldn’t be feared. Instead, she learned to step into new experiences with an open heart and mind, and to not hesitate when presented with a challenge.
She shares a quote that captures this sentiment, “El cielo, ya no es un limite. The sky is not a limit anymore.”