From Community College to Master’s Degree
Like many people, you may be under the impression that you need to enroll in a traditional, four-year college in order to advance your education and find a great job. But with the rising cost of tuition, room, and board, it might not be a bad idea to consider another option- starting off at your local community college!
Like many people, you may be under the impression that you need to enroll in a traditional, four-year college in order to advance your education and find a great job. But with the rising cost of tuition, room, and board, it might not be a bad idea to consider another option- starting off at your local community college!
Not convinced? Let us introduce you to April Colley, Academic Advisor at Auburn University. April began her secondary education at Southern Union State Community College (SUSCC).
April shares, “In my senior year, my family experienced a house fire where we lost everything. Once the fire happened, it became more apparent that I needed to stay closer to home.”
But what started as tragedy ended up being a blessing, according to April. “I was grateful for the chance to go to school where I could work and rebuild the life that I had. My time at Southern Union was a gift! I had great instructors and the transition from high school to a 2-year institution was smoother than it would have been going directly to a 4-year institution, especially given all that happened my senior year,” she says.
“Once I decided to transfer, I had relationships with some of my SUSCC instructors who continued to encourage me and even helped me navigate the often-challenging transfer process. I eventually went on to graduate with two bachelor degrees in sociology and psychology at Jacksonville State University, and later went on to Valdosta State University to pursue a master’s in Clinical/Counseling Psychology.”
Even with her master’s degree, April still kept adding to her list of accomplishments. “I transitioned into the professional world as an Academic Advisor in the College of Education at Auburn University. During this time, I decided to go back to school one more time to pursue a Ph.D. in Adult Education,” she says. “In this process, I realized that SUSCC had prepared me in an unexpected way…I found that I was very passionate about transfer students coming to Auburn, because I had once been in their shoes and remembered my own challenges in transferring. That lesson has caused me to have great compassion for my transfer students.”
When asked about what’s next, she shared, “Though I enjoy working in academics and enjoy my college students, I also want to continue to pursue opportunities in the counseling world, research, and teaching. I currently work with junior high students on Tuesday nights and I want to continue to seek opportunities to give back, especially to younger kids. I have had so many people who mentored and poured into me, so I want to mentor others in my life.”
