• Hometown: Salem, VA
  
  
• Are you a current student in the program or an alumni?

        Alumni

• Graduation Year from ADP

        2024

• How did you enter the Adult Degree Program?

        Original ADP Application

• Degree Earned & Concentration

        Bachelor of Individualized Study Major in Individualized Study Concentration in Early Childhood Education Development

• Please list a fun fact about yourself!

        My favorite food is pickles!

• Tell us about your success story & include your background and journey to ADP (previously attended institutions, military, etc.)

Right after high school, I went to community college to become a teacher or daycare director. After my first year there, I had to step away from that and raise my first daughter. My education was put on the back burner for several years while I become a Stay at home mom for my 3 daughters. When they were all in school and thriving, I started working in the school system to make some extra money for the family. I knew my heart was always in the classroom but at that time, I didn't have the support to go back to school. My dreams were put on hold for almost 20 years. After a huge life change, I had the support and encouragement from my husband, parents and coworkers to take a look into what I had left to succeed with my goal. Covid hit and everything was online so I thought "Why not?" Well....after completing my course work at Community College, I was accepted into James Madison University. I was so doubtful of myself. Working a full time job, keeping up with the family and juggling school work was not an easy task but I accomplished it with better grades than I ever imagined! I graduated with a 4.0 gpa for my bachelors! This accomplishment is one I never thought would happen in my life, much less to the capacity I did! I was offered a job at the same school I was currently an Instructional Assistant as well as the one where I went to school myself! I am so blessed to work in an environment where I am supported and encouraged to keep chasing my dreams!

• What are your next steps/future plans?

I plan to graduate with my masters in Education with Teacher Leadership Concentration this spring. My teaching career started this past fall and I will continue teaching 2nd grade with some of the best coworkers in the world!

• Who is someone that supported you throughout your time in the Adult Degree Program?

My husband, my 3 daughters and my parents were huge supports to me! I couldn't have done any of this without them! They sat through family dinners with me on zoom, understood when I couldn't come to a game, or was fine with peanut butter and jelly for dinner if I had too much on my plate that night! I have had the pleasure of working with some of the best educators there are! One particular pushed me to go back to school and has cheered me on through this journey, Mary Ellen Collier. Some of the other teachers who have made this possible for me would be Kyle Highfill, Katie Crotts, Bronwyn Thomas, and Summer Custer. These are some of the best rockstar teachers there ever was! I also became very close with some cohorts from my BIS program. Lou Ann Leonard, Rebecca Hancock and Alexandra Cromwell were there from the start and they are still cheering me!

• What is a tip you would give to current students in the program?

Don't give up! It is worth it in the long run! These professors are there to help and support your journey, use them as great resources