Joanita and Ziona Young, are a mother and daughter who attended Bard Microcollege Holyoke at the same time. They spoke at our 2023 Fundraising Party about studying together and finding themselves.
I’m Joanita Young, a homeschooling, divorced mom of seven children ages seven to 23. I enjoy going to museums and art galleries. I love to sew and make soap and anything to do with crafting. Having my first child at 19, my journey to get an education has been halted several times, despite my efforts. On May 27, 2023, I graduated from Bard Microcollege Holyoke.
I am relatively new to the area. After fleeing domestic violence with my seven children, we became homeless. We were sent from Haverhill, MA to Holyoke to go into a shelter. We were promised that we would be moved back to our community, but that never happened. While in the shelter, I was given the opportunity to attend the Bard Microcollege Holyoke at The Care Center. I’ve wanted to go back to school for years so I jumped at the chance to further my education. I’ve worked hard to overcome domestic violence while helping my children to overcome their own traumas. Attending college while balancing the load of motherhood and life’s challenges has not been easy.
Why I Didn’t Quit
Every single semester I wanted to quit. Every. Single. Semester. Ann Ward, our director, actually refused to let me quit. No matter the situation, she wouldn’t let me give up on myself. “How can we help you succeed? What do you need to make it?” is what she would ask repeatedly. The faculty wants to see each student succeed. The professors have a heart that I’m just not sure can be found elsewhere. It’s as if they take our failures personally. That’s just not going to happen on their watch.
A Path of Success
Bard Microcollege Holyoke has set me up on a path of success. Our course load at the Microcollege resembles that of the four-year mother university, Bard College in Annandale-on-Hudson in New York. With professors from local universities such as Smith, Mount Holyoke, UMass Amherst and others, my classmates and I have received a rigorous education. And it doesn’t stop here. I just learned a few weeks ago that I have been accepted to Mount Holyoke in the Fall of 2023 on a full ride to study Biochemistry. I have also received a scholarship from the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts. From there, I hope to work in the field of cancer research.
I’m hopeful that I can create a better life for my babies, a life that’s better than one they’ve experienced before. I came to the Microcollege as an unsure woman, with no stability. I leave an educated woman, sure of herself with lifetime-friends who have supported me these last two years. My life is stable and fully transformed.
My Baby is in the Right Place
I also leave knowing that my baby is in the right place. That’s because my daughter Ziona attends Bard Microcollege Holyoke, as well. Her first year in the Microcollege was my last year. We even had the pleasure of taking a class together in Fall of 2022. Ziona is 19 years old and the third of my seven children. She has classic middle child syndrome, and she is the self-imposed boss of our household. Zi, as we lovingly call her, has just completed her first year at Bard, which is exciting for us both. Bard Microcollege Holyoke has given her a world class liberal arts education in a family-like setting. The small class sizes and detailed learning has allowed her to thrive as a student and an individual. Let me tell you a little bit more about my amazing daughter.
Ziona has the rare quality of being both resilient and soft. It’s not often one meets someone who has kept their softness in the midst of overcoming hardships. She always thinks about the collective before thinking of herself. Ziona often seems to ask the question, “How can I be of service to someone today?”
The support the Bard Microcollege Holyoke gives Ziona has helped her maintain that softness. The encouragement and care she gets from the faculty, as well as her classmates allows her to gain confidence in her ability as a student and especially as a writer. Her confidence has been boosted so much since attending the Microcollege. I credit that to her own hard work but also to the amazing culture of support the Microcollege continues to foster.
My Message to Ziona
To Ziona, I would like to say: I’m so extremely proud of you in ways I will never be able to convey into words. You’ve overcome so much in such a short time. Your eyes still shine bright and your smile still lights up any room you enter. I see the ways in which your time in college has allowed you to flourish and use your voice. You’ve been shy your whole life, and I didn’t want that shyness to stifle you. I’m really proud of the young lady that you have become. You deserve to take up space. You NEED to take up space. The world needs to know you and to hear you. Do not allow mediocrity to dim your shine. Let everyone know that there is a young, black educated lady who is ready to make her mark. There is no doubt in my heart or mind that you will accomplish everything your heart desires.
