According to Valorie Ebert, an associate professor and honors coordinator at Broward College’s North Campus, Dailove Louis is the kind of student every teacher yearns for.

“She is an excellent student who goes above and beyond to help others succeed as well,” Ebert said. “She never fails to accomplish what she has set out to do, and she does so with a constant smile.”

What makes Dailove’s smile even that much brighter is what she went through to become a Broward College graduate.

Only in the United States since 2020, Dailove said that she chose Broward College to help her continue her journey to a better life. When she arrived in America from Haiti, she was alone in a new land, with English as her second language.

“I faced self-doubt before even starting college, and I was unsure how I would succeed in my studies,” she said. “To overcome challenges, I pushed myself to seek help, connect with others and fully engage in my classes, which ultimately helped me gain confidence and succeed in my academic journey.”

Succeed she did, as she is getting ready to graduate with an associate in arts degree in nursing. But she’ll be the first to tell you that it wasn’t an easy path to take.

“After being accepted to Broward College, I encountered many challenges, such as anxiety, having to work full-time to cover tuition for my first year and adjusting to a new educational model,” Dailove said. “I didn’t view these as obstacles because my determination to get into nursing school was so strong. This focus kept me motivated and happy throughout the semesters, and I approached every task with enthusiasm, aiming to make myself proud.”

She said the fact that Broward College provides several resources to support its students made her educational journey a little easier.

“I used several BC student resources, and my counselor reassured me whenever I called, providing me with hope and support during difficult times,” she said. “I took advantage of the North Campus pantry and the Academic Success Centers, which helped me gain a better understanding of course material before and after class and, ultimately, led to better grades.”

Dailove said she is sharing her story because she hopes it can help inspire other students and she can serve as an example that nothing is impossible, even for someone who is a stranger in a strange land. And she had an added wrinkle to her story – she was pregnant with her daughter when she started school.

“I was pregnant, but I never gave up,” she said. “I maintained perfect attendance and was always on time, building positive relationships with my peers and professors. Balancing full-time school, a full-time job and parenting was challenging, but I managed it all, showing that dedication and perseverance can lead to success."

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