Oswald L. Didn’t Let Age Come in the Way of Chasing His Big Dreams  

Oswald L. was born in Jamaica and moved to Venezuela at age 21 and eventually to the United States where he now lives as an American citizen. “Growing up in Jamaica was a very happy time for me even though there wasn’t much to do. I played football, cricket, and many other games with other kids in the neighborhood,” he shares.  

He has professional experience of many years in areas like quality assurance, quality control, material management, quality audits, applicable quality codes, and civil construction inspections. “I am attentive to detail and have strong problem-solving skills. My effective communication skills are a result of working extensively in the United States, Central and South America, and the Caribbean Islands. I am fluent in English and Spanish and can translate very well between the two. I taught myself to speak, read, and write in Spanish.” 

Oswald lost his job during the COVID-19 pandemic, and that’s when he decided to get back to school to fulfill his lifelong dream of earning a college degree. He got to know about UoPeople via popular media and was impressed by the university’s promise of affordability and flexibility. 

“The admissions process was mostly smooth, but I had to go through an additional review because I received initial education in Jamaica and GCE was the certifying body for our high school education. Because I took the GCE exams in 1977, it took some time for details to be verified and confirmed. I am glad to be back in school learning things I always wanted to learn,” he adds.  

Oswald loves how his curriculum and classes are structured at UoPeople. He especially appreciates the ease of asynchronous learning that enables him to learn on his own time from wherever he wants.  

After earning his associate degree in business administration, he plans to study further and enroll in the MBA program. He likes to stay busy and productive, he says.  

When not working or studying, he likes spending time with his family and is learning to play the guitar. His life partner of over 35 years is his main source of inspiration and support. He wants to complete his formal education to see his career blossoming and wants to give back to the community. We are truly inspired by Oswald’s back-to-school journey and wish him all the best for his future.