Orian Christine Osorio enrolled at BMCC 1988, then “due to my mother’s illness, starting a family and moving, my education was placed on the back burner,” she says. In 2009, she returned to BMCC, where she was a member of the Latino Honor Society, and completed an Associate in Human Services degree. She next earned a Bachelor’s in Social Work degree at Lehman College, where she graduated Magna Cum Laude and earned an NYC Administration for Children’s Services (ACS) certification for completing a James Satterwhite Academy Professional Development internship. She went on to earn a Master of Social Work (MSW) degree from New York University and works today as a social worker at Rockland Psychiatric Center in theirQuality Assurance Department, helping to development policies and procedures, and prepare for Joint Commission visits to the facility.
Q: What is your favorite memory (professor, class, etc.) of BMCC?
A: I remember Professor Rosalie Gleicher in the Human Services program. She was always early to class, so I could ask questions. She was very organized, helpful, and always came back the following week with answers and follow-ups to our questions. When I left her class, I felt ahead of the game, and to this day I place all of my reading materials in plastic sleeves, something I learned from her.
Q: How did BMCC help you get where you are today?
A: I am from London, and graduated high school at age 16. When Ifirst enrolled at BMCC I felt lost and had some apprehension about myself, but many of my professors saw my potential and pulled it out of me. I remember one summer I was taking a math class with Professor Michael Kent who pulled me aside and said, “What’s wrong? You keep second-guessing yourself. Just trust yourself.” He didn’t know it at the time, but that made a world of difference in my confidence. I came in to BMCC to finish up my associate degree and with his chat and the passion and belief from other professors I kept on going.
Q: What advice do you have for today’s BMCC students?
A: Believe in yourself. Have a dream and dream bigger, surpass the dream and aim higher, always be yourself, but keep your feet firmly planted to the ground.
Q: Why is it important for alumni to stay involved with BMCC?
A: It’s important for alumni to remain involved because not all students are as strong or resilient as they could be, and are so beaten down by lifethat it’s difficult for them to get back up. Having that one individual in their life who shares their own story of overcoming hardships in college can spark their resiliency. Having someone by their side can make the difference in their success.
