Ocean County College OceanViews Magazine 2026 Winter Volume 19 Issue 02 - Flipbook - Page 20
ATHLETICS
In Her Own Words
Zuleika Hanvey is a student-athlete and entrepreneur guided by family, faith, and purpose
My educational journey didn’t begin in a traditional way, it began with courage, humility,
and a deep desire to better my life for myself
and my family. As an adult myself with young
adult children, I took my first step back into
education through the OCC Workforce and
Professional Education Program, where I
earned my GED. That program changed everything. The teachers were patient, encouraging, and truly invested in my success. They
helped me realize that even after being away
from school for many years, I still had the ability to learn, grow, and thrive. Their support
gave me the confidence to take the next step.
After earning my GED, something inside me
said, “Keep going.” I had recently started
my own coastal specialty cleaning business, Neatness by The Sea, and I wanted to
strengthen my knowledge so I could grow
it into something meaningful. That’s when
I decided to pursue a degree in business
management, with a minor in accounting
starting at OCC. I wanted to understand the
business world from the ground up, not just
as an entrepreneur, but as a future leader.
Returning to college as an adult was not
simple. I was balancing motherhood, running a household, business, and studying
full-time. There were nights I studied after
cleaning homes all day, and mornings
where I woke up earlier than the sun just to
stay ahead. But through every doubt, every
assignment, and every challenge, I felt God
guiding me. Joshua 1:9 became a verse I held
close: “Be strong and courageous… for the
Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
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With all of this, another unexpected blessing
in my journey has been becoming a studentathlete. Joining the OCC Cross Country team
was something I never imagined for myself,
but it opened a new level of discipline,
confidence, and mental strength. My coach
pushed me beyond what I thought I was
capable of, having confidence in my potential for growth, not allowing me to quit. Our
athletic director and my teammates became
a source of constant motivation and support. Running taught me that growth happens in discomfort, that when you push
through the hard moments, you find the
strongest version of yourself, and you learn
to trust the process, as my coach would say.
Balancing school, sport, business, hobbies,
and family has not been easy, but it has been
unbelievably rewarding. My family is my
greatest motivation, my “why.” I want them
to see that no dream is too big, no timeline
is too late, and no obstacle is impossible
with determination, faith, and hard work.
When they see me study, run, work, and
persevere, I hope they see the message I’m
living out loud: you can always start again.
OCC has become more than just a college to
me. It has become a community that supports, strengthens, and believes in its students. My professors, especially in accounting, marketing, and business, have helped
shape me academically and professionally.
They challenged me in the best ways and
helped me see what I am capable of. From
the Workforce Program to the Athletics
Department, student advisors, OCC tutors,
they’ve all played a significant role in
my growth and confidence as a student
and as a woman. The support of my
family means the world in this process;
they have been my biggest fans. I enjoy
nature, cooking new recipes, playing
Super Mario Bros. games with my family,
movie nights, and just celebrating all the
amazing possibilities there are when
you walk in faith towards your goals.
My journey is far from over. My
educational goal is to transfer to
Stockton University to continue
my studies in business and expand
my opportunities. Professionally, I
hope to grow Neatness by The Sea
into a larger, more impactful business and eventually create programs
or resources to help other women,
mothers, and adult learners follow
their dreams just as I am following mine.
If there is anything I want others to take from
my story, it’s this: There are no limits, you’re
not too busy, too behind, or too far from
your dreams to start again. Purpose doesn’t
expire. Growth doesn’t have an age. And your
future is not limited by your past; it’s shaped
by your courage to take the next step.
I love when each semester is over and
you have that sense of accomplishment and celebration of another
milestone. I’m proud to be part of the
OCC community as a student, athlete,
entrepreneur, wife, mother, and a
woman walking boldly in faith toward
the future God is writing for me.
