Roxana Alas, during her induction into the Academic Honors Society Sigma Delta Phi, at Hunter College.
“Education is a gift, and knowledge is something nobody can take away from you.” These were the words of Roxana Alas, when commenting on what college means to her. Today, 21-year old Roxana is currently completing her Bachelors degree at Hunter College with a double major in Psychology and Spanish Literature.
Today, Rosy Alas is the successful owner of her business – L.R. Multiservices Agency, providing insurance services to establishments all over New York City. However, like thousands of undocumented immigrants, at the age of 18, Rosy decided to leave the comfort of her home in El Salvador and set out to America in search of a better life and opportunity. Here, she reflects back on her journey to success and shares a couple tips on how to get there. Continue reading
Luis Naula and his assistant, Juanita
For Luis Naula, America was more than just a land of opportunity – it was a place where he could make his dreams a reality. Emigrating from Ecuador in 1987 was no easy task, from language barriers to figuring out how he was going to start his career. “I knew I wanted to have my own business, but I did not know where to start…it was a daunting situation with little to no English,” he recalls.
Initially, arriving in the United States proved to be a challenge for Luis, due to the pressures of supporting his family in Ecuador and adapting to the American culture. But it was Luis’s first job as a hair extension maker in a small shop in Brooklyn that inspired his new business venture. Today, he and his wife, Ana Naula, are the proud owners of Olimpic Hair Corp, located at Broadway a 161st Street in the Washington Heights neighborhood of Manhattan.