When Belviga Mpolo moved to Maine from the Republic of the Congo in 2014, she spoke no English.聽
On Saturday, May 10, she鈥檒l graduate from the 杏吧传媒 with a bachelor鈥檚 degree in Social and Behavioral Sciences, a GPA that hovers between 3.8 and 4.0, and plans to start her master鈥檚 degree in Social Work.
鈥淵ou know what, when you have a goal, you have to work hard,鈥� said Mpolo, 31.
Mpolo was a French-speaking student in her early 20s when she left her home country, also known as Congo-Brazzaville. In Maine, she enrolled in Adult Education courses and took a housekeeping job specifically because her coworkers only spoke English.
鈥淢ost of my language I have learned from work,鈥� she said. 鈥淚f they say something, I can learn from that and correct my grammar, correct my pronunciation.鈥�
But a casual conversation is vastly different from college-level academics. Mpolo enrolled at Southern Maine Community College and spent all weekend, every weekend studying. She called her writing 鈥渧ery, very bad.鈥� That is, until one of her professors started encouraging students to read their work out loud to catch mistakes. With time, practice, and reading her writing aloud, she grew as an English speaker and a student. She graduated from SMCC and, last spring, enrolled at USM.
Mpolo attended college full time while also working full time with adults who have disabilities. She鈥檒l graduate from USM with her bachelor鈥檚 degree just a year after she enrolled.
鈥淚 wanted to work on my dream and my goal as well, before I have a family,鈥� she said.
As she navigated USM, Mpolo received help and support through the Adult Student Success Center on the Portland Campus, as well as from professors, staff members, and administrators.
鈥淎ll of them have been amazing,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 am very grateful.鈥�
Mpolo will spend the summer working before jumping into a master鈥檚 program in Social Work at USM. She鈥檒l still work full time once she resumes school again.
鈥淥f course,鈥� she said.
Mpolo鈥檚 ultimate goal: help children and families as a social worker.
鈥淚 dream of becoming a social worker and advocating for children, families, and everyone suffering in silence,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 want to help them, not only tell them what to do, but also give them the information and resources they need to improve their lives. USM has contributed to my social worker journey by giving me the knowledge, guidance, and self-assurance I needed.”