The perseverance and work ethic that Duque brings to everything she does was instilled in her from a young age. Watching her single mother immigrate to the United States in search of independence and the American dream made her realize that she had an incredible opportunity to break the cycle and pursue higher education. Duque worked as a housekeeper and a nanny for several years (“doing what I do best—caring for others,” she says) to save money for school.
“When I came here as a child, I started to understand that what I have right now does not equate with what I could have in the future if I work hard,” says Duque. “And every day I was thinking about how I could help my mom; I would think about if I do well in school and press forward with goals, someday I will achieve them.”
For Duque, the ultimate American dream was always centered around two things: education and family. The United States represented prosperity and opportunity, but she knew it would take hard work and long hours to achieve her dreams of becoming a nurse—a profession she fell in love with while doing a job shadow during her time at North High School in Worcester, Massachusetts.
“I always wanted to build a strong family and to find someone who shares my ethics and common goals,” says Duque. “I came from a broken home and was determined not to follow in my parents’ footsteps and to create a strong support system.”
A LONG ROAD TO REGIS
In 2006, Duque was on her way to that dream. She was 19 years old, newly married, and living in Marlborough with “the love of her life,” Lyndemberg. Thanks to his support and her scholarships, she began her nursing education as a first-generation undergraduate at Regis.
“I never thought in a million years I could attend college after everything that I went through,” says Duque. “Being accepted and driving up the hill on campus felt like a dream.”
But just a few months later, that dream would be put on hold when Duque and her husband received the exciting news that they would soon welcome a daughter to their family. Duque considered her options with the hope of juggling work, motherhood, and her classes at Regis when she was thrown another curveball.
“When my daughter, Isabella, was born, we were overwhelmed with joy, but we were also experiencing the pain of the economic collapse,” says Duque. “We lost it all—our first home, our small business, and all of our savings. I found myself asking my mother if I could move into her home with my husband, my dog, my 8-month-old daughter—and with another baby on the way.”
STARTING OVER
After living with her mother for two months and welcoming their second daughter, Gabriella, in 2009, Duque and her family moved to an apartment in Hudson, Massachusetts, determined to overcome yet another obstacle. Duque’s dream of a nursing degree was on hold—but “always in the back of my mind”—as she and her husband made a plan to rebuild and start over as a new family of four.
“From a young age I had to rely on myself and be strong, and I have learned that focusing on the negative won’t achieve anything,” says Duque. “I have to be strong for my children. When you put others in front of yourself, you find a reason to keep fighting.”
So they kept fighting. Her husband worked as a subcontractor and Duque returned to working as a nanny—still with the ultimate goal of home ownership.
A MIRACLE IN MARLBOROUGH
After building back their savings for two years, Duque says their dream home came on the market in Marlborough. They worked quickly to get the necessary paperwork together, but in the meantime the house was foreclosed on—and when the bank took ownership, the house went up for auction. 
“We had no idea what to expect at this auction, but we prayed for a miracle and decided to go,” says Duque. “I’ll never forget showing up with our two girls in my little old raggedy Pontiac and seeing a sea of investors in fancy cars standing outside the home. In my head I was thinking ‘what am I doing here?’”
When the auctioneer began, Duque threw her hand up immediately to bid. The auctioneer continued to the next bid level—and there was utter silence. Duque says the investors were looking at one another, but no one bid. She describes the next several minutes as if she was in a movie in slow motion. Then, she says, one of the lead investors said to his peers, “I’m not going to bid against them, and you shouldn’t either. We all know this house should belong to them.”
“I fell to my knees in the middle of the street and started bawling,” says Duque. “No one else bid and we got the house. It was a miracle of God.”
A LONG ROAD (BACK) TO REGIS
Nine years after she initially enrolled at Regis, Duque never lost sight of a nursing education. One day in 2015 she describes waking up with a burning desire to realize her dream of going back to Regis—and she knew it was time. A close friend who also received a Regis scholarship—and attended while raising young children—inspired Duque as well.
“I thought, ‘wow, if she can do it, I can do it,’” says Duque. “It serves as inspiration that moms can do this.”
It was 2015 and Duque was working as a nanny when she was accepted to Regis for the second time to pursue her nursing degree. It was at this same time that her renovation loan fell through unexpectedly and Duque and her family were “camping” in their new Marlborough home—again dealing with one of life’s curveballs.
“I was in class every day thinking about my kids living in a tent, so failure was not an option,” says Duque. “I had great professors who reassured me I could do hard things—that I could achieve my education despite the challenges I faced. Their support really helped me keep the faith, and my mission was louder than my fear.”
And as she continued to work and take classes, her husband started fixing up the house—taking it upon himself to learn the electrical, plumbing, and other technical skills needed to transform their house into their dream home where they still reside today.
Duque received her bachelor’s degree in nursing in 2018 and two years later earned her master’s degree from Regis as well. Just five years after living in that tent with her family, Duque was a nurse practitioner at Greater Boston Medical Associates. And seven years after rebuilding their home, her husband thrives as a real estate investor, entrepreneur, and builder. As Duque says: “Faith and hope are contagious.”
A TRUE CARETAKER
Duque’s number one priority—personally and professionally—has always been to take good care of others. That innate ability to nurture has been developed over many years and it’s a skill she brings to her job as a nurse practitioner every day. She also brings her own personal experience into her work with her patients.
“When I have a patient struggling with depression or anxiety, I always encourage them to write down what’s bothering them and think about what they have control over and what they don’t,” says Duque. “This is something I do in my own life, and helping my patients deal with their mental health helps to improve their physical health. My goal is to treat them as a whole person.”
Duque’s altruistic nature makes her a great teacher—and she is passing along her knowledge and experience to new nurses by serving as a preceptor.
“I am a preceptor for four nurses— two of whom are Regis students—and as much as I love teaching them and passing along my knowledge, their questions challenge me and I learn so much from them as well,” says Duque. “Our legacy as health care providers is to ensure the next generation is ready to give great care.”
And Duque continues to build her own legacy at Regis—now back at the university once again pursuing her doctorate in nursing practice (DNP) degree, which will be her third nursing degree from Regis when she crosses the commencement stage in 2024.
“I absolutely love my job and I am so thankful for it,” says Duque. “When I complete my DNP, I hope to explore nursing leadership opportunities, and maybe one day even open my own practice.”
The key to Duque’s success has undoubtedly been her grit and determination despite her circumstances. But it has been her strong faith that has guided her every step of the way—and keeping the faith is what has kept her on track to achieve her goals.
“Faith comes from believing in things you cannot see. I am grateful that my journey of acquiring a higher education and becoming a nurse practitioner allowed me to grow as an individual and have a positive impact not only on myself, but on those who surround me.
“I have helped family and friends chase their dreams and pursue education. My mission is to love people back to life and to live a life full of hope, love, and health—and to positively influence the people that I interact with on the job and in my community.”
Watch the video below to hear more from Duque on her journey as a first-generation student at Regis.