Zoraima Osegueda

Zoraima Osegueda of Brookfield feels like she’s finally turning her ambitions into a reality. After years of hard work and determination, Osegueda recently graduated with an associate degree, thanks to the support of Triton College’s Workforce Empowerment Initiative (WEI) Program. Triton equipped her with the skills to become a Patient Care Technician (PCT), a role she now proudly serves at Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood.

“I would not have succeeded without Triton College,” she said. “The WEI Program was amazing, from their weekly check-ins to the guidance and counseling. They’re not here to hold your hand, but to brush the dusty sidewalk so you can walk. They (paved) the path to success.”

Osegueda’s educational journey began after high school when she attended Monmouth College. But faced with overwhelmed tuition costs and a lack of belonging, she left after two years. Deep in debt and uncertain of her future, she chose to serve three years with AmeriCorps, giving back to the Chicagoland community.

“I really liked the idea of giving back,” she said.

Osegueda was placed at Wendell Phillips Academy High School in Chicago, where she worked as a teacher’s aide. After school, she tutored students who were falling behind and was trained to listen to their experiences and stories and serve as a mandated reporter.

“I became so close with my students,” she said. “They even invited me back for their graduation. I think I made a huge difference.”

Osegueda was later promoted to the Civic Engagement Team, assisting under-resourced Chicago Public Schools with corporate-sponsored projects, from painting classrooms to fixing utilities.

In 2017, she joined Chicago Public Allies, a program founded by Michelle Obama. Although she enjoyed her job, Osegueda felt something was still missing—especially after becoming pregnant with her daughter.

“I loved being out in the field helping people, and I wasn’t doing that anymore,” she said. “I still yearned for a degree.”

Right before her pregnancy, she enrolled at Roosevelt University but withdrew from classes due to the COVID-19 shutdown.

“I had imposter syndrome,” she explained. “I had a great career, but no degree. I was going to galas with people who had master’s and doctorate degrees, but I didn’t have a bachelor’s degree.”

On Valentine’s Day 2024, Osegueda’s husband gave her the ultimate gift. Instead of flowers and chocolate, her husband told her to resign from her job and focus on school—he would support her financially so she could pursue her educational ambitions. “My husband and family members knew that I was going to become a nurse,” she said. “But I had to figure that out for myself.”

After researching options and talking with family, she began taking perquisites at Triton College to become a PCT. Through the WEI program, she received financial assistance that helped her afford school supplies and materials. With two years of previous college credit under her belt, she earned both her associate degree and PCT certificate from Triton. Filled with determination, Osegueda is continuing her education at Triton to pursue a second associate degree in nursing, while working at Loyola University Medical Center.

“I took six classes this semester,” said Osegueda. “I earned straight A’s. It felt amazing having my daughter and family members see me walk across the stage. One day, I will tell my daughter my story.”

Triton College’s Workforce Empowerment Initiative (WEI) empowers students from underrepresented communities to earn industry-recognized credentials that lead to higher-paying jobs in in-demand occupations. Funded by the Illinois Community College Board (ICCB), WEI helps shorten the time it takes for students to enter and succeed in the workforce. Triton is one of 18 colleges in Illinois offering the program and has received $1.2 million in funding for 2025.

Now in its sixth year, Triton’s WEI program supports 15 career pathways, including Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), Medical Billing and Coding, Phlebotomy, Welding, Dental Assistant and more.

For more information, visit triton.edu/wei.