Priscilla Daniels first found The Care Center when she was sixteen years old. Unsure whether or not to fully commit to the educational program, she carefully observed her classmates. Priscilla watched as some of her peers left, while others took advantage of The Care Center’s supportive educational opportunities. As young mothers graduated from The Care Center, Priscilla couldn’t help but notice how happy they were.
Around the same time, Priscilla reunited with an old friend who would later become her husband. “That’s when I started seeing things differently. We wanted to move forward in life,” she explained, “and do things the right way.” She decided to prioritize her education and dove into just about every extracurricular activity The Care Center had to offer.
Priscilla especially loved rowing. She was inspired by the way the boat’s momentum required moving in unison with her teammates.
Priscilla graduated with her high school equivalency degree in 2013. Six years later, Priscilla received an invitation in the mail. Her photo had been featured on the invitation for The Care Center’s annual fundraising event. She attended the event and learned about Bard Microcollege Holyoke, the nation’s first college for young mothers and low-income women offered onsite at The Care Center. Priscilla applied and was accepted.
Studying Alongside Her Children
During the pandemic, Priscilla began classes at Bard Microcollege Holyoke, studying remotely alongside her school-aged children. Priscilla’s children would proudly turn their screens to show their teacher that their mom was in school too.
Priscilla’s children were a big part of her motivation. “To know that they’re looking up to me and seeing that if I can do it, they can do it,” she explained. “I’ve always told my children that school is very important. To become somebody and do something in life, you have to go to school.”
The Power of a Small Group of Women
The logistical supports Bard Microcollege Holyoke offered including child care, tutoring, transportation, and food were helpful. But even more powerful was the camaraderie of the small cohort of women going through the program together. Priscilla recalls reaching out to another student in a private message to offer support during a difficult time. That private message soon morphed into a group chat with women helping each other out as issues arose.
Priscilla and many of her classmates are on track to graduate from college this May—their success due in large part to the strong bonds they created outside the classroom and the Microcollege model that supports them. Much like Priscilla’s rowing experience, the women are moving forward in unison.
