One of New York’s scholarship recipients is Amiris Perez. Amiris is a student at Essex County College. Amiris came to the Unites States eight years ago in search of the “American Dream”. Since her early childhood, Amiris has been inspired and motivated by her mother who is a single parent that raised Amiris and her twin sister. It is because of that motivation and encouragement that Amiris became interested in computer information systems as a profession. In 1998, Amiris won a technology scholarship, which also motivated her to pursue a career in the technological field.

When Amiris enrolled at Essex County College, she was not proficient in English and as a result had to take ESL classes. Amiris used a substantial amount of her financial aid on her ESL classes and therefore the scholarship she received in the Fall of 2001 assisted her a great deal.

Amiris has a number of steps to take in order to achieve her goal of becoming a computer information system professional. Amiris feels its important that she gets good advice, take the required courses, and obtain a high grade point average and focus on completing all the requirements to receive her degree from Essex County College. Amiris knows that with God’s help, support from her mother and her professors, she will graduate and begin working as a CIS professional.