Symphony Plascencia-Garcia, from Hobart, is graduating in May with a bachelor’s degree in business administration.

Staying close to home was important for Plascencia-Garcia. She began her college career at Ivy Tech Community College, then transferred to Indiana University Northwest after receiving her associate degree. “Credits were super easy to transfer to IU Northwest and the campus was close to my house and job, making it very convenient for me,” she said.

Plascencia-Garcia chose a degree in business, even though she was unsure of where it might take her. “I knew a business degree could open up a lot of doors for me regardless of the industry,” she said.

On her own since the age of 18, Plascencia-Garcia paid her way through her first few semesters of college, facing personal and financial challenges along the way. Because of the cost, she could only take one or two classes at a time. “I was so frustrated with how long it was taking,” she explained, “but once my grades improved, I began receiving financial and scholarships, which helped a lot. I never gave up.”

Once Plascencia-Garcia’s grades improved, the scholarships and grants started to flow in from sources on campus. “I could not be any more grateful for receiving the financial help, as this relieved a tremendous amount of stress and worry,” she said. “The scholarships were a result of my hard work—and validation that it all paid off.”

Plascencia-Garcia appreciated how determined her professors were to ensure her success.

“It was obvious how much they all really enjoyed their jobs, so that made coming to class much more enjoyable.” She also valued the small class size (IU Northwest has a student to professor ratio of 14:1) and all of IU Northwest’s student resources, such as the Office of Career Services. “Overall, I felt like my needs were taken care of as a student here and am so proud to be an IU Northwest alumna.”

Plascencia-Garcia learned a lot in the classroom, but she also takes away a personal lesson: “Don’t compare yourself to anyone else. Your path is different from another's,” she said. “In the age of social media, it can be easy to fall into the trap of thinking you should be further down the road or that you are a ‘failure’ for not being like those around you.”

There are a thousand paths to a college degree, she emphasized, so it’s important to find and follow your own.