Noemi Olavarria, of Bayonne, N.J., had a lot to juggle when she first started at GCU. As her journey comes to an end, she looks back at all the challenges she had to overcome to be where she is today.
Having come to the United States from the Dominican Republic when she was only nine years old, Olavarria was an ESL (English as a Second Language) student who struggled to adapt to an entirely new culture and language. However, instead of focusing on her struggles, she allowed them to inspire her and give her the courage that she needed to pave the way for those who one day might be in her shoes instead.
“I wanted to do something that would allow me to make ESL students transitioning to this country a smooth and enjoyable experience,” said Olavarria. “That would be teaching with passion and equipping them with what they need to be successful.”
At times, Olavarria was hesitant about furthering her education as she feared failing and not meeting expectations. “Sometimes we can be our own dream stoppers,” said Olavarria. “Fear paralyzes and causes us to create obstacles that impede us from reaching our full potential.”
Pushing fear aside, she enrolled at GCU to earn a Master of Arts in Teaching English as a Second Language and found her path to success. The program was completely online which gave her the flexibility to juggle family, a career as an elementary school teacher in Jersey City Public Schools, and her commitment to The Hub Church ministry which she founded with her husband to support women, children and the immigrant population in Jersey City.
A highlight of Olavarria’s time at GCU was the time spent with Dr. Lindiwe Magaya, an Associate Professor in the School of Education. “Meeting and working with her was a blessing,” said Olavarria. “Not only did she truly push me to reach my full potential, but she did so in such a caring and loving way.”
Olavarria participated in the Academy of Excellence and she developed services to support students who are ESL learners during her time at GCU. While exploring her major, she was exposed to current theories of second language acquisition and cultural competence which gave her the opportunity to evaluate different ESL and bilingual instructions.
Her determination and commitment to complete a Master’s degree program and thesis come from multiple sources — but Olavarria is especially thankful for her husband, who took on more responsibility with the family to allow her to have the time she needed to study. And part of needing that time to become successful in school definitely meant missing out on some family moments.
“Even though I might have missed out, this is for them—I am creating a legacy for my children to follow,” said Olavarria. Her faith played a big part during her time at GCU, especially during those moments when fear prevailed. “I thank God for giving me the grace needed during this season of my life.”
As she prepares to graduate with her master’s degree in ESL, Olavarria is filled with a sense of pride and accomplishment, knowing she has worked hard to get to this point and she is excited to see what the future holds. Although she is already a teacher, Olavarria plans to obtain an ESL teacher position at GCU in the near future. Talk about coming full circle.
