When Mousumi came with her family to the United States, she quickly realized she would have doors open to her here may not have been possible in her home country of India. Mousumi was the first in her family to graduate from college, but once she married and had children, she had was expected to focus more on taking care of her family.
Upon coming to West Michigan, Mousumi found that there were various options for her to attend English classes online while also balancing her time as a mother and helping her children in school. It was at her English classes at the Kent ISD that Mousumi learned about the online Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) English classes with the Literacy Center and Goodwill Employment Services.
Mousumi completed the class successfully, passed the state certification exam, and is now working at Holland Home as a CNA. Mousumi enjoyed learning more advanced medical vocabulary because it is closely related to her degree as a veterinarian in her home country.
Mousumi “felt at home at Goodwill in this class – they built me up and helped me with my goals.”She was also surprised by how much support they received in the class: “I was very surprised about the job fair – I thought we would have to look for a job, but they brought the employers to us. Everything we needed was in one place.”
Reflecting on this opportunity, Mousumi shared that “When I had children, I thought that was it.When I was a child in my country, it was
very different for women. It was very hard to choose your study and dream.” She continues, “Now I am happy, and my children see me in my scrubs before work and I see they are proud. I feel proud – I am a woman, I am smart, and I know I can do anything.”
Mousumi thinks about this quote from Nelson Mandela, when when she feels is unsure of herself: “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” Mousumi believes that she and others can change their lives and make the world better through continuing their education—and she credits the Literacy Center and Goodwill for that support.
