Shacoria “Corey” Baldwin is one of the thirteen women who graduated from Bard Microcollege Holyoke in the spring of 2020. She is now pursuing her Bachelor’s degree in education and psychology at Mount Holyoke College.
Outside of the classroom, Corey has her hands full. She is the mom of twin nine-year-olds, Jahmari and Jahmeir, and two-year-old Ezariah. When Corey started classes at Bard Microcollege Holyoke, she and her children were living in a homeless shelter. In an interview on the Connecting Point, she said of her struggle, “It’s a sad story and I’ve been through a lot of trauma. I don’t want that to be my story.”
Corey learned about the Microcollege through her caseworker at the shelter. Unable to work at the time, she wanted to be proactive in planning for her future while she searched for housing. After an interview with the Microcollege’s director, Corey was convinced that the program would be a great fit for her. “They really made the whole process of returning back to school as easy as possible,” explained Corey, “eliminating everyday barriers that hold many of us back like children, transportation and funding.”
The Microcollege, at times, felt more like a family than a school. In addition to the program’s stimulating academics and supportive services, it offered a built-in community. She describes, “We all were so close and looked out for each other whenever we could. From helping with emergency babysitting to forming study groups outside of school hours to having our children play together on Thanksgiving weekend.”
Corey’s last semester in the Microcollege took an unexpected turn when Covid-19 hit in March and the college transitioned to a remote learning model. Despite the unrelenting demands of parenting, studying from home, and navigating the pandemic, Corey graduated with honors from Bard Microcollege Holyoke. Her success did not end there. Corey received a Francis Perkins Scholarship to continue her education at Mount Holyoke College. Having experienced many disappointments in her life, Corey was especially grateful for the good news. “I worked so hard and I really wanted to get in,” she describes. “In the past things didn’t always work out for me as I had hoped so it was very nerve racking while I waited to hear back.”
Her ultimate goal is to earn her Master’s degree and become a social worker, perhaps even coming back to work for Bard or The Care Center. “I really want to give back to my community and help those who are in positions that I once was.” Corey explains. “I am a big believer in paying it forward.”
