Dream It and Become It Through Online Learning, Continued

Aisha not only credits her experience in Saudi Arabia with broadening her views about life and the world, but also with motivating her to pursue a master's degree in education online at Walden University.

"I was looking to improve my skills and many of my colleagues had their degrees already," she says. She is quick to add, however, that her travels have given her a special kind of knowledge not gained with a master's degree.

"Living here, I learned what 'culture' really represents. It's something that I couldn't explain in one interview, nor is it something I could learn from the TV, books, schools, or the media,"Aisha says. "I found out for myself that the best way to learn about a culture is to live within that society of people."

Indeed, the very idea of teaching ESL in Saudi Arabia as Aisha's dream job may be baffling to some, given the country's harsh climate, severe punishments for crimes and perceived lack of human rights, especially for women. However, she comes to the country's defense. "Based on my own travel experiences and research, I've come to realize that most cultures are dominated by men -- although many will deny it," says the mother of two.

"There are many challenges, but [teaching abroad] is well worth the experiences you gain," she continues. "You will have much to bring back into your classrooms and your new cultural life experiences will definitely have an impact on your perspectives on life."

Finding the Silver Lining on a TV Screen

When Robert Florio was 14, a dive into a friend's swimming pool changed his life forever. After hitting his head on the bottom, Robert became a quadriplegic, but that hasn't stopped him from pursuing his artistic dreams, with support coming from big-name major league baseball players and pop stars.

After rehabilitation, Robert found he had a lot of time on his hands. "I started to think, 'What do I want to do?'" Art became his refuge, so he started to paint watercolors using his mouth. As his time in rehab wore on, he wished for something more than television to entertain himself and his visitors.

Traditional video games, about which Robert had always been passionate, do not boast the same thrill for those with disabilities, he says. That's why he decided to devote his future career to designing games with new capabilities that everyone could enjoy.

"I realized there's a market for [games for people with disabilities]," he says. "It's a form of stress therapy and it can help a lot of people."

To reach his goal, Robert enrolled in the Art Institute Online's video game art and design program. Though he started his training at a community college, he finds online learning to be more convenient.

"You can archive [your work], and it's easy to say, 'Hey, check out what I just did.'" The Glen Burnie, Md., native expects to graduate in 2007 with hopes of one day running his own game design company or working with another company to specialize in video games for the disabled -- though he admits he's anxious to make his ideas come to fruition.

Given the amount of publicity he's received lately, Robert should have no problem scoring a job. Last year, his good friend, Baltimore Orioles player Jay Gibbons, helped him raise $13,000 for his expensive medical care and equipment by donating $500 for every home run he hit. He's also found support from Baltimore Blast soccer player Denison Cabral, Anne Arundel County Executive Janet Owens and the pop group Maroon 5.

"I know I'm going to be successful," Robert says. "Art was always something I admired, and I just need to stay healthy and remember it's not always bad to have my injury."

For these three online learners making very clear marks on the professional world, education helped them overcome obstacles -- both physical and societal ones -- and live the lives they dreamed.

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