Success Stories: Rowena D.

When Rowena D. first came to STRIVE, she was 18. She had just arrived in the U.S. from her native Philippines. There were several strikes against her. She spoke poor English, she couldn’t afford to go to school, and she didn’t know how to get a job.

"STRIVE’s headquarters were located in the basement of a housing project, just like the one I lived in," Rowena recalls. "I didn’t know what to expect. I was scared. I didn’t have the money to buy the attire STRIVE required, so I borrowed clothes from my mother which were way too big." She was sure she wouldn’t be accepted into the program. So when Frank Horton, STRIVE’s then Director of Training, informed her that she had been accepted, Rowena could not believe her ears. Mr. Horton then gave her two subway tokens — one to go home and the other to come back for the start of the training.

"That was the beginning of my journey," Rowena reminisces. "Those three weeks of ‘tough love’ at STRIVE have played a significant role in my life." She has stayed in touch with STRIVE ever since.

Her job developer at STRIVE, Larry Jackson, helped her get her first job at Stanley Computer Systems. There she was exposed to many different job functions. Using the skills and attitudes she learned at STRIVE, Rowena soon saw herself honored as the Employee of the Year. It was while working at the computer firm that Rowena discovered her interest in bookkeeping and accountancy.

Larry Jackson encouraged Rowena to keep setting her goals high. As soon as she could, she decided to get her college degree. She worked during the day and went to school at night. Eventually, she graduated with a degree in Public Accounting from Baruch College of the City University of New York (CUNY).

Since then, her career has continued to progress steadily. She rose to become Chief Accountant at Shanghai Tang and eventually Fund Controller at Financo Mercantile Capital Partners Fund.

Over the years, Rowena has tried to repay STRIVE for its role in setting her on the right path at a crucial juncture in her life. Among other things, she keeps Larry Jackson, her mentor at STRIVE, regularly informed about job openings at her company, and she has proudly hired other STRIVE graduates.

By all accounts, Rowena’s life has turned around beyond recognition. Not only has her professional life continued to blossom, she is now married and the mother of a little boy named Gilbert. In addition, Rowena and her husband have invested in some real estate properties.

"But it all started with STRIVE," says Rowena. "STRIVE gave me the biggest gift of all — courage and determination. The lessons STRIVE taught me have become a permanent part of my life."

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