Mohamed Barrie was only 18 years old when his family left their home country of Liberia in West Africa for the United States as refugees. His mother, a registered nurse and single parent, was determined to give Barrie and his siblings a better life.
“My mother was truly an inspiration and the reason why I decided to pursue nursing as a career, said Barrie. “She made so many sacrifices for our family that included accepting a bag of rice and beans as her salary in order to feed us.”
Leaning on his mother as inspiration, Barrie started pursuing his nursing career after arriving in the U.S., becoming a certified nursing assistant in 2006, then a licensed practical nurse in 2011, and a registered nurse in 2018. Moving full steam ahead in his academic journey, Barrie was ready to pursue his bachelor’s degree in nursing and researched various programs. Following a friend’s recommendation, he applied to North Carolina Central University’s (NCCU) RN to BSN Online program and enrolled in 2019.
“I cried when I was accepted to NCCU,” said Barrie. “I saw how the students had pride in their school and was excited to be a part of the institution.”
Excited to initiate the next phase of his journey, Barrie would experience a set back after learning that his previous schools were not accredited and he would have to retake courses.
However, remembering the sacrifices of his mom and with the support of his wife and children, Barrie faced this challenge head on by doubling up on classes while working a full-time job so he could graduate as part of the fall 2021 class.
“NCCU faculty and staff were very supportive, and always available for questions via phone or text,” he said. “It is because of their influence - from Dr. Erma King to Dr. Karen Webb – that I am now applying to doctoral programs.”
Barrie is excited to be a new NCCU graduate and join the legacy of the historic university.
“If you are interested in attending NCCU, please do not hesitate to apply,” he adds. “Regardless of your situation, find your motivation and lean on that to help you reach your goal.”
Watch Mohamed Barrie share his story about perseverance here: https://youtu.be/3X7MitvsOUQ
