My job at The Care Center is to help young parents get to and through college. And I know how difficult college can be with small children and a limited income. I was one of Bard Microcollege Holyoke’s first four graduates.
I’m the mother of two great kids, Hector, 11, and Adrian, 3. Without The Care Center’s support when Hector was younger, getting to and through college would have been much harder for me. When I was at a traditional college, there was no support for working moms — no one even seemed to care if I finished my education.
Simply put, it’s my job to care. I do that by helping women solve problems that interfere with academic success. Some students don’t yet see themselves as scholars–they need encouragement and new perspectives. For others, there are logistical issues to sort through–housing insecurity, care-taking responsibilities, financial demands.
Perhaps the most powerful tool I have is personal experience. I know that with support, college is both possible and critical. My degree has opened doors to a happier life, as clichéd as it may sound. I have a job I’m truly passionate about but that also allows me to live my life. I no longer have to choose whether to work or attend soccer games because I can do both. And to top it off, the work I do betters our community.
Thanks for supporting this special place where I have been lucky to study and work. Happy holidays from my family to yours.
Monica Diaz
Transition Program Coordinator
The Care Center
