Take It From Us: March - April 2026
Meet QCC Alumna, Kristina Dujic, ’25
“I took a gap year after high school to consider what direction I wanted to take, then QCC caught my attention. I had heard about its affordability, great faculty, and research opportunities, so I decided to enroll in fall 2023 to major in Biological Sciences and Geology.
I fell in love with my biotechnology course because it wasn’t just a lecture; it was also lab research, which I found fascinating. It helped that my mentor was so encouraging and noticed potential in her students for further research.
My dream came true when I was accepted to participate this past summer in a ten-week internship program through QCC’s Bridges to the Baccalaureate grant. I conducted research on the long-term neurological effects of opioid addiction at a hospital affiliated with Harvard Medical School. I was thrilled to work side by side with scientists who are changing the world. I still have that euphoric feeling from such a life-changing experience. In fact, I’ve kept my Harvard I.D. badge as a reminder I was actually there!
Now, I’m in my second semester at City College (CUNY) where I’ve narrowed my focus on microbiology. I plan to pursue a Ph.D. after I graduate. I want to be “Dr. Dujic”.
You could be a “Dr.” too! Write it down, say it out loud!”
Meet Jayson Bell, Liberal Arts Academy, Education
Jayson was relaxing between classes at The Student Center where he caught up with a few friends.
“When I first came to campus two years ago, it wasn’t very easy for me to meet new people, and I think alot of students have the same struggle, to be part of something.
I know for me it seemed like everybody already had their own group of friends. But I discovered that if I reached out, just to talk about nothing in particular or something I had a question about, it became easier to make connections.
My area of study is Special Education. I am close to someone who is in a special needs program, and he inspired me to help people with special needs to lead a full life. So, I’m excited to graduate this spring and continue on my path to pursue my bachelor’s degree.
I say to my fellow students reading this: just reach out to people, let them get to know you. Afterall, you can’t do everything on your own!”
Meet Frank Zhang, Business Administration, Treasurer, Student Government Association (SGA)
“I have alot going on at the same time. As Treasurer for the SGA, I balance the budget with our goals to celebrate cultural traditions. I’m also conducting undergraduate research on artifical intelligence which I will present at the Spring Student Symposium and enjoy being President of the Physics and Engineering Club. Right now, as a soon-to-be-graduate, I’m applying to colleges and universities. Oh, and I must keep my grades up! These are great problems to have!
QCC makes it easy to connect with people and make new friends. The professors not only know your name but know your work and get to know who you are through your research. All the things I do and am involved in give me a broader perspective of people in general and insight into my own life. QCC is a great value in so many ways and affordability is in the top three along with a quality education and a real sense of community.”
Meet Joel Perez, Music Production Program
Joel reflected on his recent trip with fellow Music Production students to the 2026 National Association of Music Manufacturers Convention (NAMM) in January.
“My people skills went into full gear at NAMM! I interacted all day with musicians, industry professionals, and students from all over the country, as I worked at the Orange Amps booth or traveled through the showroom floor. It was a great experience – everyone was very welcoming. After I graduate from QCC this spring, I plan to pursue studio work. I've been a musician for most of my life—I play guitar and bass, but never really cared for the production side. As a result of studying music production and having the opportunity to travel to NAMM, I realize that to be a well-rounded musician you need to be able to operate a studio as well as play. It's simply a job requirement nowadays no matter whether you want to be a musician or a studio engineer.
Also, try to spend a little time after class speaking to your professor or getting some extra work done. It makes a world of difference.”
Meet Michael Edwards, Business Administration, Global CUNY Study Abroad Program
As Michael prepares to graduate from QCC in the summer of 2026, he looked back on his journey that began when he enrolled in Queensborough in the fall of 2024.
“QCC’s fully online, asynchronous degree program in Business Administration was a big draw for me because I do my best when I can study at my own pace, plus I’ve always been interested in the field in general, and I often keep up with industry news relating to some of my favorite companies.”
Michael’s other big interest lay more than 6,000 miles away, in Japan.
“Japan has always fascinated me. It’s why I was driven to pursue a Study Abroad program so that I could immerse myself in the everyday life of the Japanese people. I learned about Global CUNY through ASAP. I applied and was accepted to College of Staten Island’s (CSI) Exchange Program at Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University (APU) Japan, where I took bi-lingual courses from October 2025 to early February 2026.
Thanks to this life-changing, multicultural experience, I want to work and live in Japan. To realize my goal, I must have a bachelor's degree to obtain a visa. I plan to apply to Baruch’s Zicklin School of Business, International Business program, which requires both a study abroad and ‘achieving language fluency’ by graduation. Baruch also has an exchange agreement with Waseda University, which is considered an elite school within Japan.”
“I hope to make serious progress towards a future career while I'm there!”
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