When he started at the University of Miami as a mechanic just over a decade ago, Albert Serrano didn't wait long to take a co-worker's advice to go back to school and earn his degree.
Once he passed his 90-day probationary period, he signed up for classes through the University's Bachelor of General Studies (B.G.S.) program, offered through the Division of Continuing and International Education (DCIE.) The interdisciplinary program is designed to help adult learners complete their degrees through flexible scheduling and course options.
Initially, Serrano said he took only a few credits at a time and took summers off to avoid burnout. His previous experience with college was not great, he admitted.
"I had gone to Miami Dade (College,) but at the time, I wasn't the student I am now," said Serrano, 32, who chose a concentration in leadership and political science for his degree.
"Coming to UM and seeing the talent of the professors and the students here inspired me to step up," he added. "UM attracts the best and brightest. I knew I had to rise to the occasion."
Though balancing work and school was challenging at times, Serrano said the experience has been transformative.
"This program has truly been life-changing," he said. "It has built my confidence, improved my performance at work, and opened doors I never thought possible. I now see myself as a lifelong learner, and I'm already thinking about pursuing a master's degree."
Serrano said he had the full support of his team at the University's Department of Facilities Operations and Planning, including his supervisor, Jerman Johnson, and his manager, Craig Cromer, who also graduated from the same degree program.
"More than most, he understood what it means to work full time and go to school," Serrano said of Cromer. "He told me whatever I needed, we would work it out."
Having the encouragement of his co-workers, along with staff at the B.G.S. program, including its director, Monica Bunsen, and former dean Rebecca Fox, helped immensely, said Serrano, who previously handled maintenance at Allen Hall, where the B.G.S. program is located.
"I would see them all the time, and they were both so supportive from day one," Serrano said, who now works out of the Bowman Foster Ashe Administration Building.
"This program didn't just give me a diploma, it empowered me to aim higher in all aspects of my life," he added. "What once felt like a distant dream of earning my degree became a reality through focus, determination, and belief in myself."
His professors and fellow students were also part of his support network, Serrano said.
"Especially when professors found out I was an employee, they went out of their way to help," he said, noting David Steinberg in the School of Communication and Sharon McIntyre in the College of Arts and Sciences as particularly influential on his undergraduate career.
Other students in his program left a lasting impression too, Serrano said.
"It was like this extended community of support," he explained. "Everyone was so engaged. We all knew what's at stake and how much this means to us."
Serrano said he has made it his mission to tell everyone he can about the Bachelor of General Studies program.
"I feel I have to pay it back and tell others on my team and on campus," he said. "They pushed me to grow personally and professionally. I recommend it because I believe in it, and I've seen what it can do."
For anyone who is considering going back to finish their degree, Serrano said the most important step is the first one.
"Don't waste time, just start," he urged. "Even if it's one or two classes, progress is progress. The time is going to pass anyway, so invest it in yourself. Be patient with the process and lean on your support system. It's not always easy, but it's absolutely worth it."
Serrano said he is excited about commencement on May 9, but that is mostly because his mother, Teresa Perez, who also works at the University in facilities management, will get to see him accept his diploma.
"She's seen the transformation in me," he said. "It means the world to me that she will get to see me graduate."
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