On the path to her dreams

Four years ago Katsiaryna Peshankova moved to the United States from her native Belarus speaking no English and with only $300 to her name. Last Thursday, she graduated from Monroe Community College with an impressive 4.0 GPA and multiple scholarships to further her education.
Katsia’s plans didn’t always include moving to the United States. Back in Belarus, many of her college friends were advocating for gay and lesbian rights, and she was targeted as a sympathizer. After being beaten up and jailed several times, she was forced to flee Belarus for her safety.
Her first stop in the United States was Cincinnati, Ohio, where she worked odd jobs while studying English. She moved to Rochester in 2005 and enrolled in MCC—her boyfriend’s alma mater—as a biology major. Katsia has decided to make her childhood dream of becoming a doctor a reality, and next fall she will begin pre-med classes at the University of Rochester.
Produced by Oscar Durand