Beating the odds, rising above it

In some ways, Joanna Ada is just like any ordinary student that you will find on campus, lugging along several books, reading while waiting for her classes to start, or exchanging chitchats with classmates while hanging out at the corridors and hallways of the Northern Marianas College.

Ada, however, is a far cry from the ordinary as she has been included in the Part Time Honor’s List of outstanding students for achieving a 4.0 grade point average for Fall Semester 2004. Her name was also forwarded to the National Dean’s List, a publication in the United States honoring exceptional college students. She will be included in the 28th edition of the book that features an estimated 190,000 high-achieving students representing 2,500 colleges and universities throughout the country.

This achievement is underscored by the fact that Ada is a special student taking up regular classes under an academic program in Office Technology at NMC. She started taking up classes at NMC in 2001.

This 23-year-old girl is no swot, however, saying she enjoys her course, particularly the computer subjects, where she is taught how to use word processors and other software.

Due to an eye problem, she said that reading is not one of the hobbies she enjoys the most. But she smiled while sharing that her favorite pastime is surfing the Internet.

For those who wonder how she managed to get a flat 4.0 average, she said that she would always go to her teachers and ask them for assistance whenever she is finding it hard to understand something. This process has helped her a lot. She also said she would always do her homework.

Ada said that when she was younger, she really wanted to work in an office, perhaps as an executive assistant, hence her decision to take up Office Technology at NMC.

It’s not all academics for her, though. Ada also loves to groove and sway to rap music, especially to the tune of Drop It Like It’s Hot. Ada finds Jessica Simpson very talented, though she prefers rap music.

She also likes to watch TV and the “Lifetime” channel is her favorite. She said the station airs romantic and family flicks that she finds worthwhile because she learns more of family values.

Ada is the eldest among six children in her family. She has three sisters and two brothers.

NMC Dean for Academic Programs and Services Joaquin M. Sablan Jr. sent a letter to Ada recognizing her hard work and determination in her studies. “You have manifested to excel in your present studies at the Northern Marianas College,” he said.

Sablan said it is just right that Ada is recognized for her decision to prioritize her college work in order to enhance her talents and skills to become a productive citizen of the Commonwealth.

Ada said that working hard to achieve one’s goals is the most important thing for anyone who dreams and works hard to fulfill those dreams. She tells other students to strive harder in their studies. “I encourage all the students to do the same thing I did and work hard on it to get that 4.0 average,” she said.

Her mom, Josephine Cabrera, said that she wants to let everyone know that, “We should not let our disabilities hamper us in achieving what we want and who we want to become in the future.”