Monique Nolberto says her best moment at Benjamin Franklin Institute of Technology was the day she was accepted into the Construction Management program. Suddenly, a world of possibilities opened up for the single mom who is originally from Belize.
“The college was so welcoming and supportive in every way possible,” she said. “They helped me get financial aid and scholarships. Everyone was always helpful.”
Nolberto was also inspired by the chair of the Construction Management program, Leslie Tuplin, a BFIT alum with a successful career in the male-dominated construction field. “It opened my eyes to what Benjamin Franklin really has to offer,” Nolberto said.
In her first semester, she successfully completed an astonishing eight courses (a typical course load is five). She credits having reliable childcare at a center near the BFIT campus, which allowed her to focus on her studies. But shortly after the second semester began, the COVID-19 pandemic hit. The daycare closed and all BFIT classes moved online. Remote learning continued through the fall, when her daughter entered a K1 program that was also remote. Nolberto says those months stuck at home were the biggest challenge she faced during her college journey.
“We were both in one room on separate Zoom classes,” she said. “I had to listen to my class with one ear and listen to hers with the other because she was learning to read and needed a lot of help. It was really hard and I did cry sometimes. I’m not gonna lie. But I stuck with it.”
Things improved when her daughter’s school reopened and BFIT classes moved back in person. Now that she has completed her associate degree, Nolberto has begun interviewing for an internship that will give her some construction industry experience. Ultimately, she hopes to build a career as a safety manager for a construction firm.
“Earning my degree has proved to me that I can create a bright future for myself and my child,” she said. “Now that I have the education bug, I’d like to continue and get my bachelor’s degree.”
