A native of Guinea, Abraham immigrated to the U.S. at age 17 to be with his family in Concord. The language barrier and culture shock made traditional high school difficult for him. “I was intimidated because of the language. It was a fast-paced environment,” he says. “That’s why I wasn’t a fan of high school. I didn’t want to go.”

Abraham followed in the steps of his mother, who had moved to the United States when Abraham was three years old. She learned English thanks to Mt. Diablo Adult Education. Now Abraham began taking English as a Second Language classes through a Mt. Diablo Adult Education program held at the Loma Vista Adult Center. For a couple years, Abraham worked on his English, taking classes at the center almost every day of the week. “Everything they had to offer, I took,” he says. “What really stood out to me is how compassionate and understanding the teachers were. They were willing to take the time to talk to you, to actually give you extra help.”

After mastering the English language in a supportive environment, Abraham had the confidence to attend Diablo Valley College. In 2013, he earned an A.A. in political science. He went on to earn a B.A. in political science and criminal justice from San Francisco State University in 2015. Abraham accomplished this while working full-time at Costco in Concord where he was promoted to front-end supervisor after getting his bachelor’s degree. Abraham has also recently applied to multiple police academies throughout the Bay Area. “Becoming a police officer is something I’m looking forward to,” Abraham says.