EVERETT, Wash. — Natalia But longs for the life she left behind in Ukraine but marches forward, building a new life in her new home.
"I love Ukraine, it is my home country. But I have the best life for me, here, I think," she said.
Natalia was a business analyst in Ukraine, but all that changed when Russian troops invaded two years ago.
Her family relocated to Snohomish County where she started taking English classes and working as an elementary school para-educator.
Natalia has two bachelors degrees, two masters degrees and 15 years of management experience from Ukraine, but she still couldn't find a suitable job in America. Then she found the data analytics boot camp offered by Workforce Snohomish and the Northwest Innovation Research Center. The 20 week program helps refugees and other underemployed groups find careers.
"They are my ticket to the moon!" Natalia exclaimed.
"She's got all of the pieces put together," said Diane Kamionka, who runs the program. She said the program focuses on data analytics because those skills are in very high demand.
"It's the foundation for building AI and machine learning," Kamionka said. "Everything builds on being able to understand and manipulate data."
Workforce Snohomish received the funding through the American Rescue Plan Act Workforce Recovery Grant from Snohomish County.
As for Natalia, the classes are already paying off.
After flying to Texas and going through three interviews in one day - all in English - she was just hired by trucking industry giant Paccar.
"It was not easy but I am excited about the opportunity the United States gives to people like me from Ukraine," said Natalia.
Embarking on her new job, Natalia plans to stay in America as her homeland sits mired in a seemingly endless war.
"I feel sad about the situation in my country but I am happy to have a huge opportunity to start a new life in the United States," she said.