A Clear Goal Baba Boubacar

When Baba Boubacar emigrated to the U.S. from Niger in 2006, he had one goal: attain the best education possible. He started taking ESL classes to improve his English immediately. “I’m majoring in International Business, and I knew English would be a good second language to learn for my career,” says Baba, who also speaks French. “And in order to take university level classes I had to be fluent in it.” He chose LaGuardia after a warm welcome during his visit to campus made him feel right at home. “I also visited BMCC, Hostos and Bronx Community College, but only at LaGuardia did someone sit down with me and answer all my questions,” he explains. “Even though LaGuardia is a longer commute for me, it’s worth it because there is so much support and so much here; the pool, the gym, the computer and writing labs. And it’s affordable.” Through a learning community in his first year –students in learning communities share two or more classes that are linked by a common theme- he bonded with faculty and fellow students as they explored New York City in the classroom and on field trips. “The learning community was like a team, it was a fun way to learn.” A job in the Student Call Center on campus not only helped pay for tuition, but also served as an opportunity to polish his English, providing current and future students with information on how to register and apply for financial aid. As a student ambassador during a LaGuardia Community College Foundation event, Baba was gifted with a laptop by a member of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Baba’s commute from Harlem to Queens was shortened, giving him more time to study and sleep, since he can now do his assignments at home instead of working in the Library until it closes at 9:30 p.m. With hopes of becoming a diplomat, Baba plans to earn his Ph.D. in international studies, and is considering Baruch and City Colleges for his BA. He also wants to teach at the university in Niger one day. His more immediate goal is to raise his 3.4 GPA to 3.7 and make the Dean’s List. “In my family, not many people went to school, but I want to earn a college degree,” he says.