Dana Nicole Roberto
Biography
Dana Nicole Roberto is used to taking care of people. She is the mother of a special needs son. She鈥檚 also the primary caregiver to her wheelchair-bound mother who lives with her. Even though she already has a lot on her plate, there is one more person Dana decided she needed to look after: herself.
鈥淲e all must put ourselves on the list,鈥 she says. 鈥淲e must decide we鈥檙e worth it and pursue our dreams.鈥
For Dana, those dreams included a long-deferred college education. After graduating from high school, she didn鈥檛 get an opportunity to head to college. Her parents had divorced, and Dana needed to go out and start earning a living. For the most part, Dana鈥檚 plan worked out pretty well.
鈥淚鈥檝e been blessed as far as opportunity, as I鈥檝e lived in Asia and Europe due to some of the jobs I鈥檝e held,鈥 she says. 鈥淚鈥檝e seen many places and 鈥 even though I didn鈥檛 have a degree 鈥 I was able to forge forward.鈥
Dana was successful, but there came a time in her life when she knew she wanted to change course. At age 48, Dana came back to the idea of going to college.
鈥淚 knew it was time to do something and make changes,鈥 she says. 鈥淚 wasn鈥檛 sure what it was, but I knew it was time and so I called Ashford University*.鈥
Dana spoke with an Ashford Advisor who helped her decide on her route forward. They talked about Dana鈥檚 goal of ultimately moving into the field of special education.
鈥淪he was so thorough and listened to me,鈥 Dana recalls. 鈥淪he made a few suggestions and then I was off and running.鈥
Dana enrolled in the Bachelor of Arts in Cognitive Studies program at the beginning of 2018. She has found that Ashford鈥檚 online format fits well into her busy life.
鈥淢y current GPA is 4.0, and I鈥檓 so proud of my achievements thus far,鈥 she says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 work to raise a child and meet his needs and go to college and bring your best to each assignment. However, I want this! So, it is what I must do.鈥
Having found early success in her bachelor鈥檚 program, Dana is hoping to take full advantage of her time at Ashford.
鈥淚 am very happy with my decision to attend Ashford,鈥 she says. 鈥淚鈥檓 excited about my GPA. I so want to attend the Honors College 鈥 or at least be able to consider it. I am also interested in other things as well, like [honor societies] Golden Key and Alpha Sigma Lambda.鈥
She is also setting goals for when she graduates from her bachelor鈥檚 program. Already, she鈥檚 thinking about continuing on into a graduate program to pursue her Master of Arts in Special Education. But more than anything else, she鈥檚 hoping her decision to go out and follow her college dream will inspire one very special person in her life.
鈥淎s a mother, I nurture my son鈥檚 dreams so he grows to believe he can do what he sets his mind to,鈥 Dana explains. 鈥淲ell, now I鈥檓 nurturing my own dreams as well to show him he can. I鈥檓 his example.鈥
* Ashford University is now the University of Arizona Global Campus