BA '69
The City College of New York was the only college I could afford because it was free. The biggest challenge was something that I came with because I did not speak English that well. I had been in this country for three years. I had to go through elementary school, high school, and then college. I did high school in two years. I obtained the diploma for eighth grade in one year at an elementary school in Coney Island. I majored in Italian and Spanish, and I had a couple of favorite professors. The student center council director was Dr. Farmer. She was the one that inspired me to do many things in college. I ran for president of several clubs, and I even became president of the Evening Student Council. Without CCNY, I would not have gone to college and on to Rutgers University to obtain a PhD. CCNY was - for me - the Harvard of the schools. I became a Spanish and Italian interpreter with the criminal court of New York. I also work as an interpreter and translator for the federal court in Manhattan.