Laura Jeovana balanced school, internship, and prep course, secured a spot in Administration at UECE, and now helps other young people.
Laura Jeovana Cavalcante, 18 years old, secured a spot in the Administration course at the State University of Ceará (UECE) before finishing her senior year of high school. A public school student, she reached graduation after dividing her days between classes, an administrative internship, long commutes, and an evening prep course.
The acceptance was confirmed during the school year itself. In light of the result, Adauto Bezerra School granted the young woman an early high school completion certificate, allowing her immediate entry into the university. She is currently attending the second semester of her degree.
Laura Jeovana turned an exhausting routine into university access
At 4:40 AM, the alarm marked the start of her commitments. Fifty minutes later, the student boarded the bus to be at school by 7 AM.
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When classes ended, she headed to her administrative internship at the Secretariat of Social Protection (SPS), where she participated in the First Step program.
Laura Jeovana’s routine combined different responsibilities:
- high school classes in the morning;
- administrative internship in the afternoon;
- evening prep course;
- ending the day only around midnight.
The little available time also affected her eating habits. On many days, the young woman had to rely only on the snacks served by the school, as she went from one activity directly to the next.
In an interview with Metrópoles, Laura Jeovana stated that she no longer had the energy to study on her own when she got home.
For this reason, the preparatory course offered by the school itself became essential for her to maintain focus on the entrance exam.
Support network was decisive during college entrance exam preparation
The student lost her mother when she was 4 years old and, from that moment on, was raised by her grandmother, Maria Núbia Cavalcante, currently 64 years old.
At home, she found the necessary support to continue studying even when tired.
Maria Núbia prepared the meals and closely followed the young woman’s routine. Laura Jeovana stated that her grandmother always encouraged her during moments when she thought about giving up on her goals.
Entering university was accompanied by another achievement. After going through internship and young apprentice stages, Laura Jeovana was hired by the Social Protection Secretariat.
Today, she holds a technical position at the Social Protection Secretariat and works with the program that marked her entry into the job market. Additionally, she follows actions aimed at young people seeking professional opportunities.
The student declared that direct contact with social assistance sparked a strong identification with the field.
The work allows her to understand how support policies for the population function and to follow actions aimed at integrating other young people into the job market.
Study as a tool to break barriers
During preparation, one of Laura’s greatest motivations was to be the first in her family to obtain a university degree.
For her, graduation represents both a personal achievement and a possibility to contribute to societal changes.
Laura Jeovana’s journey brought together initiatives from the public school and the Primeiro Passo program, which contributed to her entry into university and the job market.
After entering university and securing a permanent position at the Social Protection Secretariat, she began to support young people who today face challenges similar to those she experienced during high school.
With information from Metrópoles
