More than half of the students at CUNY’s Hostos Community College are Hispanic — and hundreds of them, through the school’s Accelerated Study in Associate Programs, are being guided toward future careers by a longtime staff member who shares their heritage.

Berkis Cruz-Eusebio helps students at Hostos Community College prepare for transferring to a senior college, or to start their life in the workforce. Her job title is career specialist — but it’s more than that.

“I'm in the business of changing lives in a positive way, but with a realistic approach,” she said. “So I can be tough love. I can be another person in your life that is your support. But I can also be that hammer that's done and tell you when you're not doing it properly and with a very positive goal."

Cruz-Eusebio’s work is part of the CUNY Accelerated Study in Associate Programs, or ASAP — designed to remove barriers to pursuing higher education. ASAP provides students with extra financial aid, free OMNY cards for public transportation to get to class, a stipend for textbooks, and wraparound services — the help of academic advisers and career specialists like her.

“It’s not a secret. Hostos services, and we work in one of the poorest zip codes in the Bronx. But we see that as an opportunity to really help students out of that poverty cycle,” she said.

She’s seen it happen — recalling a student who was a young mother who had immigrated from Guatemala. Tired of working in a bakery, she enrolled in a language immersion program at Hostos. She went from receiving government assistance to learning English, enrolling in ASAP, and earning her bachelor’s from Lehman College.

“She's now pursuing her master's. She's now a full-time staff member in ASAP, and very recently she bought her house in Connecticut,” she said.

Cruz-Eusebio can relate to her students — she immigrated from the Dominican Republic and understands the challenges many of them face.

“Students know me. You know, Miss Berkis is a real girl from the real world,” she said.

Students like Steven Perryman say the guidance from ASAP is key to helping envision a successful future.

“Especially like Miss Berkis, who, like, helps put things into perspective to help as we get ready for like these real interviews and, and these opportunities,” he said.

On a recent afternoon, Cruz-Eusebio was guiding students through a presentation on how to apply for jobs with international companies. She wants students to know there’s a whole world out there, and it’s theirs to explore.

“My dedication in life has always been to that — to show people that there is more,” she said. “And always my motto is: ‘why not?’”