Five years ago, Belline Semanyo moved from Togo, a small country between Benin and Ghana, to join her husband, Koami, in Birmingham. French is her first language, and adjusting to life in the United States brought its own challenges. A member of her church, Jesus House Birmingham, encouraged her to enroll at Lawson State to work toward her GED.
Balancing English-language learning, motherhood, and school was demanding. Belline welcomed her first daughter in November 2020 and returned to school soon after. She had her second daughter in September 2023 and again resumed her studies the following January. She completed her GED in May 2024. That was a lot, and yes, it was an accomplishment. But for Belline, it wasn't enough.
The same day she earned her GED, she applied to fully enroll at Lawson State and began college in August 2024 with the goal of pursuing an associate degree and becoming a nurse.
It would not be easy.
"I thank God for helping me through this journey," said Belline. "During the day, I cared for my children, and at night, after they were asleep, I studied. Switching from French to English was hard, but I had support from my family, my church, and the Lawson State community."
Her drive to succeed is relentless. It stems, in part, from a family experience with chronic illness.
"I saw how one nurse and one doctor changed everything by taking time to explain what was happening. It wasn't just about medicine it was about caring. I want to be that kind of nurse," she said.
Her next step: pushing forward to complete her bachelor's degree at UAB.
"This journey has taken strength, faith, and patience - and I am grateful for every step," she said.
