Farida Mousli Ferradji

I'm a true believer that if something is meant to be for you, it is going to be for you. But you have to reach out, actually, and you have to do some work, too. I had so many people in my life here in the United States helping me when I came as an immigrant, and that support made all the difference. I started working retail at Macy's and Kohl's while taking care of my young children, but I kept reaching out for opportunities. When my husband was taking ESL classes at Montgomery County Community College, I went with him one day and asked if they needed a French teacher. That's how I got started. Throughout my career, I've had so many people helping me, supporting me, and believing in me, and I'm so thankful for them. That's why when I became a teacher of credit courses, I made it my mission to be there for my students in the same way. I'm in the classroom not just to teach French, but to talk to them about all the opportunities they have here to be successful. I want to give back as much as I can, or more than I can sometimes. I think success comes from believing in what's meant for you, working hard to reach for it, having people who support you along the way, and then paying that forward to help others.

The most important values to me are supporting others and giving back. As women, we have to support each other. I had so many people helping me when I came to the United States as an immigrant, and I'm so thankful for them. That's why I'm always there for my colleagues and my students. I want to give back as much as I can, or more than I can sometimes. In my classroom, I create a safe space where students don't have to be shy or intimidated, where nobody's going to laugh or roll their eyes. I tell them we're going to work together, and I'm going to learn from them too. My students matter more to me than anything else. When I was accepted to UPenn for my master's degree, I had to make a choice between continuing my education and being there for my students while teaching at two institutions. It was not an easy decision, but my students, honestly, at that point, they mattered more to me than getting my master's degree. Yes, it would have been another accomplishment, but I was in a good spot, and I was the coordinator with responsibilities to my students and colleagues. To me, being there for others and creating opportunities for them to succeed is what matters most.