This article explores the role of postsecondary education in Maricel Doneza's transition to adulthood, situating her experience within an ecological model that explores the interaction of her postsecondary experience with her identity in family, cultural and community life. A student with intellectual disabilities, Maricel Doneza broke through barriers of discrimination, and completed a certificate in early childhood education, enabling her employment as a teacher's assistant in a preschool - the occupation of her choice. Her academic and career successes parallel successful transitions in her personal life, including obtaining a drivers license, cooking meals, grocery shopping, and budgeting money. The author's account of Maricel Doenza's experience highlights the transformative power of personal self-determination and of family, cultural and community support when pursuing one's dreams.