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PBSC student turns childhood dream into May graduation milestone
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When Maria Eduarda De Souza Silva was in sixth grade in Brazil, she made a promise
to herself: one day, she would study abroad. Nearly ten years later, that childhood
dream is coming true. Now 20, the Palm Beach State College student is preparing to
graduate in May — a milestone built on determination, resilience and an unwavering
love of learning.
De Souza Silva arrived in the United States almost four years ago, leaving behind
her family, friends and the only home she had ever known. She spoke no English when
she enrolled in a Palm Beach County high school, but full immersion helped her gain
fluency quickly. With no other Brazilian students on campus, she had no choice but
to adapt.
“It was total immersion,” she said. “I had to learn fast.”
Her journey to PBSC began with a family connection in Lake Worth, which allowed her
to live locally while her parents encouraged her education from afar. She has not
been able to return to Brazil since leaving, and her parents have twice been denied
visas to visit — a painful reality as she approaches one of the proudest moments of
her life.
At PBSC, she found more than a college. She found a community.
Working weekdays at the Student Activities Center, she gained professional experience
and financial independence. Scholarships helped her complete her degree with little
to no debt, easing the burden on her family.
“I love it here,” she said. “PBSC helped me save money, introduced me to people and
opened doors for me to reach my dreams.”
Her academic path has been anything but traditional. As a dual enrollment student
at Park Vista Community High School, she completed so many AP and college-level courses
that she finished her PBSC degree in just one year. She also received the Student
Excellence Award, recognizing her achievements and dedication.
Her passion for neuroscience began at church, where a neurologist’s talk sparked her
curiosity. She dove into online videos — often with subtitles as she learned English
— and the subject took on deeper meaning after two family tragedies: her uncle suffered
severe brain damage in a motorcycle accident, and her grandfather was diagnosed with
Parkinson’s disease.
Those experiences solidified her desire to pursue neuroscience as a career. She has
been accepted to Florida State University and her long-term goals include conducting
research and eventually attending medical school in the United States.
The road from Brazil to Palm Beach County has been marked by sacrifice and perseverance.
She left her parents and younger sister behind, but she says the support she found
here — from PBSC faculty and staff has carried her forward. “A dream I had as a child
is becoming real,” she said. “This degree is just the beginning.”
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