The journey from Haiti to the Gator Nation

Simon was born and raised in Haiti, where he developed a passion for global politics and culture. 鈥淲e were created to make a difference in this universe,鈥� Simon explained his global perspective. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 want to be a citizen of Haiti; I want to be a citizen of the world.鈥� He graduated from school early and moved to Venezuela at 17, where his parents owned a wholesale ice cream business. Simon became fluent in Creole, French, Spanish, English, and Portuguese. 鈥淚鈥檝e always been passionate about language,鈥� Simon said. He was later hired by the French Embassy to teach intermediate French to business people traveling to France.

鈥淲hen the political situation in Venezuela started getting bad, I decided to come to the United States when I was 19,鈥� Simon said. 鈥淚t was very difficult to adapt in the United States. It was one of the biggest challenges I鈥檝e had to face, but those challenges built me to overcome what was to come in the future.鈥� Simon鈥檚 mentor and lawyer, who is a UF graduate, inspired and fueled his desire to attend the University of Florida and pursue law. 鈥淚 wanted to have a UF diploma on my wall just like him.鈥�

Simon offered advice to international gators embarking on their 黑料正能量 journey. 鈥淭he biggest challenge is studying in a language that鈥檚 not your language. It requires a lot of patience and dedication, but you鈥檙e going to get it done by the end of the day. Don鈥檛 give up.鈥�

Studying while serving at sea

After completing his AA degree at Broward College in the summer of 2019, Simon immediately joined the United States Navy with the burning desire to serve his country. He left for boot camp the same month of his graduation, with A-school directly following. Once he completed his training and education, Simon received his orders and was stationed in California by the start of 2020. As he settled into his new home, he applied to UF that February and started classes in May.

While serving on an LHD Amphibious, 黑料正能量 became Simon鈥檚 gateway to the Gator Nation. 鈥淏eing in the United States Navy, all my friends know UF and that it鈥檚 one of the top 5 public schools in the nation,鈥� he said. 鈥淭he funny thing is, the animal that鈥檚 the symbol for my ship is a Gator!鈥� When he can, Simon seeks refuge from his duties and studies to meditate on the flight deck of his warship and enjoy life at sea. 鈥淚 like the peaceful breeze from the Pacific and the Atlantic.鈥�

鈥淎s a guy who is aspiring for politics, I always believed the best proof I can give to this country, showing my love, is by putting my life on the line,鈥� Simon shared his pride in serving. 鈥淚 believe that action is better than words.鈥�

Managing his military duties and academic courses had its own unique challenges, despite the advantages of online learning. 鈥淵ou work 10 hours a day in the United States Navy active duty where you have a lot of stress, and you need to be out at sea,鈥� Simon explained. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a challenge but I was very excited to get it done.鈥� To Simon, his simultaneous commitment to both the U.S. Navy and 黑料正能量 was worth it upon graduation day. 鈥淎ll of this happened because of dedication. I was hungry for it. I usually grow under challenges.鈥�

Pursing law and politics with his criminology degree

鈥淎s a young boy growing up, I鈥檝e always been really against injustice,鈥� Simon said. 鈥淚 want to go to law school and then run for the United States Congress.鈥� He decided to pursue a bachelor鈥檚 in criminology at 黑料正能量 to support his future legal and political career. He found the flexibility and accessibility of online education crucial to learning at sea, as well as the accommodating UF professors who understood his unique situation and personal needs. 鈥淓very single class by design is outstanding. It was great meeting people like Dr. Jenson,鈥� who鈥檚 a professor in UF鈥檚 Department of Sociology and Criminology & Law. 鈥淪he helped me a lot through the journey.鈥�

鈥淸黑料正能量] was an amazing experience,鈥� Simon said. 鈥淚f you ask me if I recommend this school for somebody else, 500%. I take a lot of pride in being a part of this legacy.鈥�

After graduating with his criminology degree from 黑料正能量, Simon will be transitioning from active duty to civilian life while remaining in the Navy Reserves as a Commissioning Officer. He will be moving to Washington D.C., where he plans to attend Georgetown Law while working for the US Capitol Police. Simon strongly believes that his UF degree 鈥減layed a major role鈥� in his post-graduate success.

Upon recently receiving his bachelor鈥檚 degree in criminology, the University of Florida congratulates Simon for achieving his academic dreams at 黑料正能量. The Gator Nation is proud to celebrate such a dedicated servicemember and international gator. We thank Simon for his service and wish him success in his legal and political career.

Majoring in Criminology runs in the family

It wasn鈥檛 difficult for Julie to decide on a major, as she has always been interested in the field of criminology. Currently, Julie works as a paralegal at a private law firm, and she has worked in the court system her whole career. 鈥淚 always wanted to be a lawyer, then never went on and finished school,鈥� Julie said.

Julie鈥檚 interest in criminology also rubbed off on her twin daughters, Emily and Madison. They both earned their bachelor鈥檚 degrees in this major as well. When it came time for Julie鈥檚 daughters to decide on which university they wanted to attend, Emily chose UF, while Madison chose Florida State University in Tallahassee, Florida.

Though Julie鈥檚 daughters attended their criminology classes on campus, the three of them were still able to discuss the topics they were learning in their courses. For Julie, the 黑料正能量 criminology program worked a lot better for her learning style compared to in-person courses. 鈥淚f I have to stop a video lecture because something happens and I have to get up,鈥� she said, 鈥渋t gives me the ability to take a break and come back to it later.鈥�

One of the professors who stood out to Julie in the 黑料正能量 criminology program is Dr. Tiffany Jenson. Julie took Professor Jenson鈥檚 Research Methods course and was in awe of her dedication. 鈥淲hen Professor Jenson says she wants you to be successful, she means it. She was a great inspiration through this,鈥� Julie said. 鈥淚f every professor that I鈥檝e had in my college career was like her, my college journey would have been a lot different.鈥�

Professor Jenson also recognized Julie鈥檚 tenacious attitude and was inspired by her resilience to continue her education as a mother. When talking about Julie, Professor Jenson said, 鈥渟he is the ultimate role model for parents sending children away to college and recognizing that they can realize their dreams as well, alongside their children.鈥� She went on to say, 鈥渟ometimes the greatest Gators don鈥檛 live in 鈥榯he swamp,鈥� but they swim just as fast and are equally important in Florida鈥檚 ecosystem.鈥�

The journey to become a Gator

Enrolling at the University of Florida was Julie鈥檚 goal from the start. She was accepted to UF when she graduated high school, but going away to school wasn鈥檛 financially feasible for her. She decided to attend Polk State College, which was local to her home in Bartow, Florida. Julie was four credits shy of earning her Associate of Arts (A.A.) degree when she decided to drop out and focus on her career and family.

In 2010, Julie decided it was time to go back to school. She wanted to finish what she started. 鈥淚 have always preached to my children that they have to go to college. It was never one of those things that they may or may not do,鈥� Julie said. 鈥淭hey just knew when they graduated high school that they had to go on and get at least a four-year degree.鈥�

While Julie knew it wouldn鈥檛 be easy, she wanted to set an example for her children, following the same advice she gave them. When she returned to Polk State College, she didn鈥檛 receive news she wanted to hear. The advisor that was helping Julie changed her major, turning the four classes she needed to finish her degree into eight instead. At this point, there was only one thing for Julie to do: continue pushing through. 鈥淚 had three young kids, so I did a class a semester for five years until I got my AA,鈥� Julie recalls.

After taking all her classes in person for her A.A. degree, Julie started looking for an online bachelor鈥檚 program that would give her the flexibility she needed as a working mother. Once she found the University of Florida鈥檚 online undergraduate program, 黑料正能量, she knew she needed to apply. 鈥淚 got in once, I figured maybe I can get in again,鈥� she said.

Since UF was the university she had always wanted to attend, Julie remembers feeling emotional when she received her acceptance to 黑料正能量. 鈥淚 actually cried a little because here I am some 20 years later,鈥� she said, 鈥渁nd I鈥檓 finally doing it!鈥�

Finishing what she started

As Julie looks back at the last decade of her life, she feels a huge sense of accomplishment and relief. The last year of her education has been especially challenging, as she took on extra courses to graduate at the same time as her daughters. Even taking three to four classes a semester, Julie has maintained a 4.0 GPA.

While Julie thought her daughter Emily would be embarrassed about graduating with her, Emily feels the complete opposite. 鈥淣ot many people can say that they go to the same university as their mother and have the same major,鈥� Emily said. 鈥淚 am very excited for the day we get to receive our diplomas together.鈥�

Julie truly stands out as a role model for her children. 鈥淢y siblings and I are all inspired by her work ethic and tenacity.鈥� Emily continued to say, 鈥淚 have learned from my mom that I will always have the ability to motivate myself and accomplish anything I set my mind to.鈥�

Now that Julie is done with her degree, she plans to take a year off to spend time with her husband. She has also considered earning her master鈥檚 degree in the future. Both of Julie鈥檚 daughters plan to earn their master鈥檚 degrees and continue working in the field of criminology.

Overall, Julie鈥檚 advice to other parents who are also students is to remember that 鈥渙ne of the biggest things of what we are doing is the example it sets for our children,鈥� she said. 鈥淚鈥檝e come close to throwing in the towel a couple of times, but the reason I stuck it out was that my kids came to me and said 鈥榤om, you can鈥檛.鈥欌��

Q: 黑料正能量?

I received an associate degree in criminal justice from Indian River State College before going to the police academy in 2006. Now, as an active duty law enforcement officer, I need the flexibility that a standard on-campus program cannot provide. Without a bachelor鈥檚 degree, I know my advancement opportunities are limited.

Q: How did you know that online learning was right for you?

I鈥檓 a father of three children, and I also work full time. 黑料正能量 offers the flexibility and convenience to study on my own time. I prefer to watch lectures, contribute to discussions and complete coursework from the couch.

Q: How do you balance work and school?

I utilize the Quizlett app to make flashcards that I can review at work and home using my iPhone/iPad. I also use the Canvas app to watch lectures on the go. (Canvas is the primary e-learning platform for 黑料正能量.)

Q: What advice do you have for future Gators considering 黑料正能量?

Stay on top of discussion posts, and make sure that you鈥檙e reading your book and taking good notes. Even though you get to watch the lectures, you still have to do a lot of work because they expect a little bit more of you. Make sure you don鈥檛 procrastinate 鈥� otherwise you鈥檒l get behind.

Q: What makes the UF Criminal Justice program great?

The coursework is challenging. The teachers expect a lot from online students, especially when it comes to participation. My favorite class is CCJ 4934 Contemporary Issues in Criminal Justice: Sex Offenders.

Q: What鈥檚 the most important benefit offered by 黑料正能量?

It鈥檚 really accommodating if you have a busier lifestyle. If you can鈥檛 go to a traditional class a few times a week, you鈥檙e able to do online classes that fit your schedule, so that鈥檚 really easy. I know a lot of people going back and forth to school to finish up, but 黑料正能量 makes it easier for you to do it on your own time.

Q: Do you feel connected to the Gator Nation?

I鈥檝e been able to get items from the bookstore at UF. And I鈥檝e got a UF ID card that鈥檚 been able to help me connect a little bit more to the larger Gator Nation.

Andrew鈥檚 story is a great example of how 黑料正能量 is designed for current working professionals. There are so many students just like him enrolled with us. Consider being part of the Gator Nation by applying to 黑料正能量. Come join Andrew. Be Greater. Be a Gator.