At 35 years old, Ana Hernandez felt something was missing. One night at 3 a.m., while scrolling through social media, she came across an advertisement for SUNY Orange. She clicked the link and applied.

“I just knew I needed a change,” she said.

Her path forward was cautious, beginning with just two classes to see if she could manage school alongside a demanding life that included commuting daily to Manhattan for a 45-hour work week. Having earned her GED in 2011 and once considering herself a college dropout, Hernandez was uncertain about returning to the classroom.

Originally from Mexico and currently residing in Newburgh, Hernandez had to navigate higher education as an adult learner while building a future in a new country. What followed was a steady transformation marked by encouragement from advisors, growing confidence and a renewed academic identity built over time.

Modest and humble, she credits much of her success to the faculty and staff who supported her journey, including Academic Advisor Anthony Scalia and Business Department Chair Teree Angerame.

“Professor Angerame made me feel at home and convinced me to keep going,” Hernandez said. “She believed in me, and I am forever grateful we found each other.”

That support helped propel Hernandez to academic success. This May, she earned an Associate in Science in Business Administration along with a list of honors and scholarships. A member of Phi Theta Kappa, the national honor society, she received the Charles J. Reilly Business Education Scholarship, the Orange Ribbon Award and a Business Department academic award at the College’s recent Convocation ceremony.

Her husband, Stephen Gill, attended and said, “This is a wonderful event. Everything she has been doing, all of the work, being recognized, it’s just great.”

Seen at Commencement with a brilliant, beaming smile and a personalized mortarboard that read, “She believed she could, so she did,” Hernandez celebrated her achievement surrounded by family.

Now, with the goal of becoming a business analyst, she is preparing for the next step: transferring to New York University this fall after completing additional credits at SUNY Orange over the summer.

“Adult learners face unique challenges balancing work, school and personal responsibilities, but persistence pays off,” Hernandez said. “Keep going. It is hard to get back to your education. Life takes over. It is a lot of hard work and takes courage, but your dreams can come true if you are willing to work hard.”

Hernandez said her journey has shaped how she sees herself — not as someone returning to education, but as someone creating a stronger future.

Adult learners seeking to start or resume their education are invited to get started at SUNY Orange by visiting www.sunyorange.edu, calling (845) 341-4030 or emailing apply@sunyorange.edu today. Be sure to inquire about SUNY Reconnect, a tuition-free program for eligible adults ages 25-55 interested in selected degrees leading to careers in high-demand fields.