Less than a decade ago, Maria Therese Commisso was a baker in the coastal town of Siderno, Italy.
In just a few days, she will be walking the stage of Hackett Middle School in Albany, having earned her High School Equivalency diploma and completed an English as a Second Language program, both through the Capital Region BOCES Adult Education Program.
“It feels good, but I miss class, and, in the back of my mind, I am thinking what’s next?” Commisso said.
What’s next is a celebration as Commisso and more than 100 other adults take part in an Aug. 20 Capital Region BOCES Adult Education graduation ceremony. The event begins at 5 p.m. at Hackett Middle School in Albany.
Commisso’s journey to becoming a Capital Region BOCES graduate was not easy, nor even planned.
The 38-year-old moved to the region six years ago to assist her brother with his restaurant, Frank’s Ice Cream & Restaurant in Loudonville.
“I came here to help my brother for a short time, and then COVID hit, and I got stuck here for a couple of years. Now, I decided to stay and try this new experience, and my husband has joined me here,” she said.
Commisso, who is manager of her brother’s establishment, has been working in the culinary industry since she was a child.
“I grew up in bakeries. I started when I was 7 years old, and I am now 38,” she said.
She started with BOCES three years ago and enjoyed her experience.
“I liked that the class was a melting pot. We have come here from all over. It’s nice because we help each other with language and our studies,” she said.
But again, fate struck and Commisso spent much of the last three years flying back and forth to deal with a family illness.
She said many people helped her during this time including Teacher Frank Finch and Vocational Case Manager Nicole Labate.
“Everyone was so supportive. It’s very, very impressive. All of the school stuff such as Frank and Nicole and all of the people were very supportive of me. That was so nice,” she said.
The Italian immigrant said that for her, the BOCES programs were more about getting acclimated to America and improving her language and writing skills and less about earning a diploma or a degree.
“Many people start this program to find a better job or continue studying in college. This class helped me practice language skills and reading and writing. I really was there to learn everything I could,” Commisso said.
Finch praised his student.
“She is a wonderful person who worked hard for this, amid family, work and health challenges in Italy and here,” he said. “This is a nice, big victory and milestone moment for her.”