August Alumni Spotlight: Priyanka Sharma (High Point High School)
LP shines this month’s Alumni Spotlight on Priyanka Sharma, Alumna of High Point High School in Prince George’s County, MD.
Priyanka graduated from Montgomery College with an associate degree in business administration in 2018 and graduated from the University of Maryland Global Campus with her bachelor’s degree in business & management in 2021. She is currently working as a Visa Submission Officer for France and owns a small jewelry business called Viyanka Jewels selling Indian artificial jewelry.
We spoke to Priyanka about her journey and here is what she had to say:
“In 2010, I moved from India to the United States when I was fifteen years old. My father worked for the U.S. Embassy in India and after completing 20 years of service we were given the opportunity to emigrate to the U.S. with his family. The biggest issue I faced when I arrived, as an older teen, was the language, culture, and the ins and outs of this new beginning which I am sure most of the alumni readers can closely relate to.
I remember learning English in school back in India, but it was not conversational English. Tired of feeling disconnected, I decided to join clubs in hope of improving my English. I joined LP and immediately, I felt like it was a safe, positive environment where we could speak English without judgement or fear of being bullied. I remember whatever level of English we knew we felt comfortable speaking. Pam, our program officer, did a great job of gently pushing us out of our comfortable zone with a variety of activities. In fact, the most meaningful experience during my time at LP was in 2012 before the election, we had the opportunity to go to Annapolis, MD to help promote the Dream Act proposal by calling people and encouraging them to vote. I achieved new strengths such as public speaking, among the many opportunities that Liberty’s Promise opened up for me.
My favorite part of LP was meeting new people and the field trips. I made many connections with so many people, which helped me in both my educational and professional career. The field trips helped me explore my new community since my parents could not because of work.
The advice I would like to provide for the younger alumni is never give up on your dreams. If you put your mind to achieving something, then no one can stop you from achieving your goals and ambitions. Yes, sometimes it will take you longer to achieve your dreams but as long as you are pursuing it and never give up that is what matters. For example, I was placed in remedial classes at Montgomery College and it felt like I wasted 3 years, but I reminded myself that it did not matter how long I took I would continue until I achieve my goal of earning a bachelor's which I did this year!”
Priyanka is also a New Futures Scholars here is what she had to say about her experience with New Futures:
“New Futures is different from any other scholarship opportunity. In addition to helping me pay my college tuition at Montgomery College and find additional scholarships, New Futures taught me new study skills, and supported my transfer to the University of Maryland Global Campus. I was also assigned a personal advisor who basically held my hand during my time at Montgomery College and I would go for anything! I remember they would come to visit me and the other New Futures Scholars at MC and connected with me regularly to ask about how colleges were going. I don’t know of any other scholarship opportunity that goes that extra mile. Because of what I learned through New Futures, I have all the skills and confidence I need to do well in my current job.”