Share this
In 2013, Hugh Nguyen immigrated to the United States from Vietnam, eager to embrace new opportunities despite not speaking English.
In 2013, Hugh Nguyen immigrated to the United States from Vietnam, eager to embrace new opportunities despite not speaking English. Over the past 12 years, Hugh has not only learned English, but with the help of Harry S Truman College, he began a dream tech career.
Months after arriving in the U.S., Hugh enrolled in English as a Second Language (ESL) courses at Truman.
“It felt like climbing a mountain,” Hugh recalled. “Luckily, Truman had an incredible English program that gave me the tools to succeed.”
Hugh not only learned to communicate effectively but also developed the skills to write college-level essays—an asset that propelled him through his academic journey. After earning an associate in science degree from Truman, Hugh transferred to the Illinois Institute of Technology, where he pursued a degree in electrical engineering. Hugh credits Truman for laying the foundation for his success.
“The professors truly cared about students, and the smaller class sizes made it easier to build connections,” he said.
Truman chemistry instructor, Dr. Raymund Torralba, went above and beyond to support Hugh. Dr. Torralba introduced Hugh to scholarships, volunteer opportunities, and valuable career resources. He also supported Hugh working as a math tutor at Truman and as a chemical stockroom assistant at the college. These roles not only added to his resume, but also instilled confidence that carried over into his internships at John Deere and Ford Motor Company.
Today, Hugh works as a software engineer at Meta, developing tools that impact millions of users worldwide. He credits much of his success to the guidance and opportunities he received at Truman and Illinois Tech.
"Truman didn’t just help me get a degree—it inspired me to pursue engineering and showed me that I could achieve anything. I’m grateful for the scholarships, resources, and professors who believed in me and made my journey possible."
For more than 25 years, Jocelyn Sanders built a successful career as a salon owner and licensed cosmetologist. But deep down, there were still goals she wanted to complete, like going back to school.
After my time in the military, I decided to enroll at Wilbur Wright College. I saw it as an opportunity for a fresh start. I was determined to take full advantage of every resource available to me. I learned how to study and take notes, I met with my advisors, I networked with my peers, and I was enjoying all my classes. One day, one of my professors took notice of my hard work and dedication and asked me a simple question that changed the entire trajectory of my life: “How are you paying for college?”
Malcolm X College nursing graduate Deon Jones is no stranger to City Colleges. He began his nursing career 12 years ago at Wilbur Wright College and went on to become a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN). More than a decade later, he's back at Malcolm X to advance in the field of nursing.
Nick Goodman’s journey to becoming a registered nurse didn’t follow a traditional path. Though he had previously earned a bachelor’s degree in political science, Nick found himself stuck in a cycle of bartending and sales jobs that left him unhappy and unfulfilled.
