Graduate Says Hard Work and Faith Are Keys to Overcoming
For Sabrina Estrella (RSG ’20), the journey toward success has been some 20 years in the making — beginning with a dream to learn English.
But soon after immigrating to the U.S. and overcoming the language barrier, the native Brazilian decided she wanted much more than just to be bilingual. She wanted an education. But first, she would have to navigate some major challenges, including becoming a U.S. citizen and also enlisting in the U.S. Navy.
“I believe it is my strong work ethic and the ability to stay focused that has helped me to overcome,” she says.
Estrella’s hard work propelled her through Regent University’s Robertson School of Government where she was enrolled as a full- time student in a dual degree program while also being a full-time mom to two toddlers.
Estrella is the School of Government’s first combined bachelor’s and master’s student — graduating with a bachelor’s in international relations and foreign policy and a master’s in national security studies. Her extraordinary efforts earned her the nomination as student representative for the Class of 2020.
In her response to the chancellor’s charge during commencement, Estrella spoke on behalf of her fellow graduates: “We, Class of 2020, never surrendered on this momentous goal … our education. In these trying times, I know we will overcome because we are more than conquerors. No matter what happens to us, if we have faith and if we have God, we will triumph.”
