When Orgeta Aliaj first arrived in the United States, earning a college degree seemed unlikely. English was a barrier, and she was adapting to a new life after leaving behind her home in Albania.

With a little help from Macomb and a lot of encouragement from her parents, Orgeta is now a registered nurse pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. She encourages others to believe in their own potential.

“An investment in education is one of the best investments someone can make in themselves,” she said.

Finding a path to nursing

Orgeta’s journey with Macomb began long before she enrolled.

“I’m not sure if Macomb found me or if I found Macomb,” she said.

After immigrating to the United States, Orgeta attended English as a Second Language classes through the Clinton Township Public Library. There, she worked with a tutor whose wife was a nurse, an introduction that eventually led her to explore Macomb’s nursing program.

“Nursing offers endless opportunities,” she said. “I believe caring lies upon all of us. We receive care and we provide care. It was at the end of COVID that I decided to go into nursing. I wanted to go and offer my help."

She enrolled in Macomb’s associate degree in nursing (ADN) program and began her studies as the healthcare system faced unprecedented challenges. Much of her coursework was initially online because of the pandemic before transitioning to in-person clinical experiences.

Orgeta, who earned her ADN in 2024, worked as a nurse intern and later as a registered nurse. Today, she works at the medical-surgical telemetry unit at Henry Ford Health.

“I love working there and helping people,” she said.

Breaking barriers through education

For Orgeta, nursing is the latest chapter in a lifelong pursuit of education that began in a small Albanian village where educational opportunities for girls were limited.

Raised in the village of Karbunar, near the city of Vlora, Orgeta remembers being one of the first girls from her village to leave home to continue her education. After eighth grade, many girls in the community stayed home and waited to marry, she said.

“My father did everything to give me the opportunity for something more,” Orgeta said. “He said, ‘Whatever it takes, you’re going to go. I know what kind of child I have raised, and I want you to succeed. The judgements, I’ll handle it.’”

With the support of her parents, both teachers, Orgeta lived in a dormitory for six years while attending high school. She later studied information technology at a college in Albania but didn’t complete her degree before marrying and moving to the United States.

Once in Michigan, she faced the challenge of learning English.

“For me, the barrier was learning the language,” she said. “But I found the courage to break the barrier and defeat my fears.”

She credits Macomb with helping her discover abilities she didn’t know she possessed.

“When I thought I wouldn’t be able to achieve anything in life, here comes Macomb,” she said.

Shortly after graduating from Macomb’s nursing program, Orgeta attended an information session when the University of Detroit Mercy launched its Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) completion program on Macomb’s campus. Initially overwhelmed by the prospect of pursuing the degree, she considered leaving.

Instead, she received encouragement from the staff that changed her mind.

“One word from them was enough for me to make the decision,” she said. “They said, ‘Anybody can do it. Why not you?’”

Now nearing the completion of her BSN, Orgeta has become the first person in her family to earn a degree in the medical field. She hopes her story serves as an example to her two daughters and future students who may question whether college is worth the time.

“Macomb can take you to wherever you want to be in life,” she said. “For me, I never would have imaged how far I’d go. But look at me now, I’m nearly a BSN. I’m so grateful.”

To learn more about nursing pathways at Macomb, please visit the pathways webpage.