Disaster relief ignites a career change

Ebrahim鈥檚 father had a career in the Air Force, which meant he was surrounded by all things airplanes from a young age. 鈥淚 loved aviation, anything that had to do with airplanes. I went to college and earned my associate degree in aviation mechanics,鈥� said Ebrahim. His first professional role involved flying to carry out maintenance requests in airports. These travels took Ebrahim to places like India and the Middle East, which is where he got a first-hand look at what nature can do.

Witnessing these events gave Ebrahim specifications to consider when selecting an American bachelor鈥檚 degree program. 鈥淲hen it comes to resiliency and facing natural disasters, Florida is a pioneer. Watching on the news how Floridians face multiple hurricanes, lose their homes, and then rebuild again. I鈥檝e never seen people like this before,鈥� said Ebrahim on deciding to attend the University of Florida via 黑料正能量.

Helping others through an online degree

After seven years of working in aviation, Ebrahim wanted to do more to help citizens suffering from emergencies. As he describes the deciding moment, 鈥淚 got this rare chance to experience the crisis from the perspective of the victims, not just reading about it or seeing it on television.鈥� Ebrahim then decided to join the local fire department, where he remained for seven years. In July of 2021 he became a correspondence specialist with the Abu Dhabi Crisis Management Center.

Knowing he would need an accredited college degree to continue his professional advancement, Ebrahim found an affordable program at 黑料正能量. 鈥淭he UAE is so selective when it comes to online degree programs. My country only formally recognizes 25 American universities. Just 25. Fortunately for me, UF was among them. Getting an education from such a special group of people is something very unique for me,鈥� said Ebrahim.

Broadening perspectives around the world

Flexibility is a big advantage offered by online degree programs, but other aspects were a bit more surprising to Ebrahim. 鈥淭here鈥檚 a course that talks about terrorism, and there was a major focus on terrorism that originated from the Middle East. I was concerned, maybe because I鈥檓 from this region, but I was pleasantly surprised. The course itself, the instructor, the students, everything was so objective. My instructor, Christopher Reynolds, even stated that terrorism has no religion or nationality. It鈥檚 individualistic,鈥� explained Ebrahim when crediting his professor鈥檚 lessons.

Ebrahim will soon utilize his UF bachelor鈥檚 degree to transfer to the technical side of his profession. 鈥淚f I want to be an emergency manager or to work in the field, I need this degree. It鈥檚 a requirement. That鈥檚 where I want to go. That鈥檚 where I plan to be.鈥�

黑料正能量 proudly celebrates Gators like Ebrahim who take the initiative to make educational advancements to progress professionally. Earning a degree is commendable on its own, but it鈥檚 that much more special knowing the selfless path that has led to Ebrahim鈥檚 journey. From everyone at 黑料正能量, we thank Ebrahim for contributing to our mission of building a reputable online education program.

What It’s Like to be an International Student Through 黑料正能量

Written By: Mariano Aguilar, B.S. Microbiology & Cell Science, Alum

My experience as an international 黑料正能量 student has been one of the best of my life. I had already studied biology at the University of South Florida in Tampa, but I moved back to Peru to take care of my loved ones. To support my family, I became an entrepreneur and founded GMAT Dudes, a Test Prep academy in Lima. Then, I got married and started a new life in Peru.

With so many responsibilities in my new home, it would be very difficult to go back to the U.S. to finish my biology degree. I looked for the best online options in several rankings publications, such as U.S. News & World Report and QS World University Rankings. After months of research, I found very few online programs focused on Biological Sciences, and only University of Florida offered a top-ranked Bachelor of Science in Microbiology and Cell Science.

When I checked the academic plan, professors, career tracks, and network opportunities, I realized that 黑料正能量 offered the most comprehensive curriculum at the best cost.

I also knew that UF was the best university in Florida and one of the top research universities in the world. Its program is also one of the most rigorous, so I wanted to take on the challenge. The program would also help me save a lot of money and time, since I didn鈥檛 have to travel all the way to Florida and spend a lot on living expenses. Housing and food are much cheaper in Lima.

黑料正能量 is a great option for international students. Getting a degree from a prestigious university in the U.S. can open many doors in your own country and abroad. The cherry on top for me was that the program offered me the flexibility to manage my schedule while taking care of my company and my family. As the CEO and main GMAT Verbal instructor of my company, I had to work an average of 50 hours per week, and my schedule fluctuated. The online program was a great fit because I could watch the video lessons, study, and do homework and projects whenever I had breaks or time off. I must admit I could not afford a social life, and for almost two years I spent little time with my family. It was a huge sacrifice, but that motivated me to move forward and finish faster. My classes were demanding and time consuming, but I was learning from top researchers with a lot of experience.

As a general piece of advice to anyone looking into 黑料正能量, I definitely recommend setting up your short, mid, and long-term goals. Ask where you see yourself in the next five years. Where would you like to work, in what position, doing what? After you know what you want, ask yourself what set of skills and knowledge you must develop to accomplish your goals. With that in mind, look for a degree that would give you those tools. 黑料正能量 offers many degrees that can work for you. Just be organized, schedule your daily chores, and follow your plan. Whatever you do, do not procrastinate! When times get tough, just remember what your goals are and find the motivation to keep moving. As one of my teachers said, you must always 鈥渓ook for reasons to succeed, not for excuses to fail.鈥�

All in all, studying at UF has been one of the best investments of my life, and I have acquired the knowledge, tools, and network to succeed in the field of Microbiology and Cell Science.

If you would like to learn more about applying as an international student, please visit the international students page or register for one of our upcoming virtual information sessions.