Adelina Pubill

Adelina was born in Puerto Rico. She is the youngest in a family of five. She grew up in a rough neighborhood in Philadelphia, PA. Despite difficult beginnings, she graduated from high school, ranking number 8 in the highest Grade Point Average, out of 325 graduating students. Adelina always felt she had a calling for serving people with disabilities but wasn’t sure how to make it a reality. Because of that, Adelina struggled with her grades in college, but with determination, she pressed on to attain her diploma. She changed her concentration and raised her grades which led to recognition on the Dean's List. Adelina holds a Bachelor's degree from Temple University, and was the first to graduate from college in her family!

Throughout college, Adelina worked for a physical rehabilitation hospital. She also volunteered at recreational events, assisting wheelchair sports players to get ready for games. Then following her college graduation, Adelina moved to Virginia, in search of a better life and opportunities. Not long after, however, the economy faced a national crisis, and as a result, Adelina placed her career goals on hold to start a family.

Nearly a decade later, Adelina learned about the need for nurse aides in her community, particularly for the elderly and people with disabilities. She enrolled in a training program at a local school, and became a Certified Nurse Aide. Adelina now works at a nursing home in Richmond, VA. In her free time, she enjoys dancing, jogging, and playing soccer with her son.