Point Loma resident Sylwia Stetz is living the American dream. Eleven years ago, she came to this country in search of a new life. Today, as she sips her coffee on a clear San Diego morning, the military wife and mother of two prepares for a day filled with fundraising and community service. She is thankful for her accomplishments and good fortune. When Stetz came to the United States with her husband and young son, her first job was working as a coat-check girl in a local New York restaurant. She also worked odd jobs, but was unfulfilled. Her dream was to pursue a higher education, which would provide her with better opportunities and make her a “better person.” She recognized that earning a degree would provide her with those opportunities. Stetz’s husband was transferred to San Diego in 2009, so she packed up her son and new baby girl and joined him, moving to the other side of the country. She was hired as a guest service agent at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront and enrolled at Ashford University, owned and operated by Bridgepoint Education, headquartered in San Diego. An online bachelor’s degree program in organizational management provided her with the flexibility and anywhere/everywhere access allowing her to take classes on her own schedule. In addition to her full time job as a mom and a pre-arrivals coordinator, Stetz is active in her husband’s command as a Navy ombudsman and in her kids’ school programs. She recently received the Bridgepoint Education President’s Volunteer Service Award, a national award that recognizes and honors volunteers that make a difference in their community. As an ombudsman, Stetz acts as a connector between families and the command and communicates with spouses and families. In this role, she provides emotional support to families during difficult deployments. She also organizes fundraisers, events and holiday gatherings for the military and their families and sends care packages to the Navy service members. “Looking back at my life in Poland, I had never envisioned living in San Diego, working in a great job, excelling in my education and making a difference in the community, while enjoying quality time with my family. I feel accomplished and confident. It’s a great feeling. I hope I can inspire my children, my husband, co-workers and friends and show them that anything is possible.” Stetz said she now plans to pursue a master’s degree at Ashford University in the coming year.
