January Alumni Spotlight: Stefanny Guerrero (Wheaton High School)

This month’s spotlight features Stefanny Guerrero, an alumna of Wheaton High School in Montgomery County, MD.

Stefanny graduated from the University of Maryland, Baltimore with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) in May 2020.  Stefanny has successfully completed her one-year nurse residency at Adventist Healthcare in their Cardiovascular Step-Down Unit. Most recently, she started working in their Joint Cardiac and Neurological Intensive Care Unit, where she is continuing to expand her nursing knowledge and practice by providing nursing care to the hospital’s most ill population.

Here is what she had to say:

“I was born in Colombia and moved to the US when I was 15 years old. Liberty’s Promise played a huge role in my process of cultural adjustment. Through LP, I learned about the US government, the higher education system, educational and career opportunities, scholarships, among other things. Through LP, I was able to meet new friends from different countries and to learn about their cultures, all while trying to learn about the US culture. Additionally, LP allowed me to become more involved in my community through volunteer work and to meet people who eventually became role models for me.

I graduated cum laude in the middle of a pandemic. I passed my nursing boards (NCLEX) in 60 questions. I was fortunate enough to have a couple of job offers before I graduated. I am currently working as a nurse resident at Adventist Healthcare in the Cardiovascular Step-Down Unit. I recently finished my six-month preceptorship (training) as a new grad, and I started working independently. 

Overall, I feel like LP helped me realize that I have a voice, that I am in charge of my future, and that I can help drive change. LP also taught me the value of hard work, respect for others, community service, and networking. Additionally, LP taught me that I could adjust to the US culture without disregarding my own. These are all things that one way or another have helped shape the person that I am today.

My favorite memories about LP include gathering with my friends after a long day of school and just being so excited about being able to spend our after-school hours in such an inclusive and supportive environment. I will forever cherish our field-trip memories where we had exceptional experiences while learning so much about history, art, community service, etc. Additionally, I loved having the opportunity to speak in front of the Montgomery County Board of Education to advocate for more programs like LP and to recite a group poem with some friends in front of a huge audience. These experiences were both nerve-racking, yet so much fun! Plus, they helped me become more comfortable with public speaking in English.

The best advice I could give other alumni pursuing a college education is to never give up. You can absolutely do this, so continue to follow your dreams insatiably. It may not be easy; it may, in fact, be one of the toughest challenges in your life. But you will get through it, and then you are going to be so grateful that you never gave up. So seize every opportunity, continue to work hard, and you will get to where you want to go. Because when you work so hard to achieve what you want, the results are much more rewarding. I promise you got this! As immigrants, we sometimes have a difficult time pursuing higher education for multiple reasons. It could be due to financial concerns, or because we do not have anyone to guide us, or maybe our families do not support us or they do not know how to help fill out college applications, etc. Therefore, having organizations such as Liberty's Promise, which are led and driven by people willing to provide us with the support and guidance that we need to thrive in this country, is extremely valuable. So, take advantage of LP's opportunities, get involved, and make the most out of it!”