Nearly twenty years ago, Marina Rotaru had fallen behind, and it seemed like there was no way out. With a 1.46 GPA, she was sleeping through classes and struggling to find time for homework while working after school to help support her family. As she began to lose hope, her sister enrolled her at Visions In Education — a decision that would ultimately change the course of her life.
“Visions fit into my schedule, and most of all taught me how to learn on my own, the way real life works,” she shared.
Determined to join the workforce at a young age to help contribute to her family, Marina found that enrolling in Visions Home School Academy gave her the flexibility to work during the day and complete her schoolwork in the evenings and on weekends. Beyond academics, this new approach to learning helped her develop a stronger sense of independence, responsibility, self-discipline, and time management.
“All these skills prepare a person to be a great steward in any field or enterprise in their future,” she explained.
Not only did Marina catch up academically, eventually graduating early with a 3.89 GPA and dual enrollment credits, but through the independent learning model she also developed a genuine love of learning. It was during her time at Visions that she discovered her passions for writing and history — interests that continue to influence her life and career today.
When reflecting on her time at Visions, Marina credits much of her success to her teacher, Sandy Fleischmann, who supported her through every step of her journey. She recalls Sandy’s encouragement in math, the subject where she faced her biggest challenges, as well as the thoughtful feedback she consistently received on her writing assignments. Sandy continually pushed Marina to improve and grow in confidence as a student and writer. To this day, Marina continues to apply the writing skills she developed at Visions, crediting those foundational lessons to many of her professional successes.
“The person who deserves all my thanks is Sandy Fleischmann… She helped me recover from the hardest time in my life, and got my education in order when I thought I had no hope.”
One of Marina’s favorite memories at Visions came from a writing assignment in which students were asked to write about someone they admired. Marina chose to write about her sister, Alina, highlighting her dedication and strong work ethic as a manager at the pizza parlor where they both worked. Sandy was so impressed by the story that she shared it with her husband, who would later hire Alina to work in his optometry office at just 16 years old. When Marina turned 16, she applied as well and was also hired to work in the office.
It was through this opportunity that Marina gained valuable experience and transferable skills in customer service, communication, sales, and managing reimbursement claims — “all skills that laid a foundation for what I use to this day.”
After graduating from Visions in 2009, Marina immediately got to work building both her career and her education. While continuing to gain professional experience, she earned her bachelor’s degree in history from California State University, Los Angeles.
At that point, Marina found herself at a crossroads. Through her studies, she had developed a deep love for academia and history and could envision herself pursuing a career as a history professor. At the same time, opportunities were continuing to open for her in the world of commercial banking. Ultimately, she chose to continue building the career path that was already gaining momentum.
The journey was not without challenges. Early in her career, Marina faced skepticism from hiring managers because her degree was not in business, economics, or finance. Rather than allowing those doubts to discourage her, she learned how to advocate for herself and explain the value of the skills she had developed through studying history. She described how analyzing historical data, conducting research, and writing extensively directly translated into the critical thinking and analytical skills required to succeed in commercial banking. Those same skills now help her evaluate financial risk and determine the level of lending her company can responsibly take on.
“Today I write credit memos 30+ pages long, with the Visions’ 5-paragraph essay structure in mind — and my boss says my memos are the ones he never has to check before I submit them.”
Now, with 15 years of experience and significant advancement throughout her banking career, Marina serves as a Vice President of Commercial Banking at First Citizens Bank. In her role, she manages a portfolio of $200 million in deposits and $75 million in loans.
What Marina enjoys most about her career is the opportunity to gain insight into many different industries rather than focusing on just one. Through her work, she has a front-row seat to how businesses are built, how money moves, how leaders make decisions, and how organizations grow and evolve. More than anything, she values the constant opportunity to continue learning and challenging herself.
“Every day this field stretches me, sharpens me, and gives me the opportunity to keep becoming better.”
Outside of her professional life, Marina’s love of learning and creativity continues to shine through. She still enjoys reading and writing and hopes to publish a book in the near future. She also finds inspiration through traveling and visiting museums. Above all else, however, family remains at the center of her life. “Spending time cooking elaborate dinners to bring everyone together is at the top of my list.”
Reflecting on her journey, Marina says she remains deeply grateful for the education and opportunities she found at Visions.
“It is an honor to be a Visions graduate. I am so grateful I did not allow the voices that warned me homeschooling would limit my college opportunities or chances to build a successful life. In many ways, it gave me the freedom, focus and confidence to discover what I wanted and pursue it with intention.”
