After starting and pausing her college journey several times, Carmalita returned to school with a clear and determined mission: to finally complete her degree. As a lifelong Cleveland resident, Carmalita has always felt called to help others. Throughout her career, she has worked as a teacher’s aide and, for the last decade, as an independent provider. With this experience under her belt, she realized the next step had been clear all along: return to school and pursue a degree in nursing.
Going back to school as an adult comes with its own challenges, ones that Carmalita knows all too well. Balancing classes and schoolwork itself is not easy, especially while raising four children, ranging in ages 3 to 17. However, with the help of College Now, Carmalita did not have to worry about the financial burdens of schooling. Carmalita is a recipient of the College Now Adult Learner Scholarship, which gave her the opportunity to take additional classes in the summer and fast-track her path to graduation.
While Carmalita’s heart is set on nursing, she also earned her Associates of Arts degree at Tri-C. Carmalita calls this her proudest achievement thus far, all while maintaining a stellar GPA and making the Dean’s List. “Being able to walk across that stage, with all 30 of my family members watching, still makes me emotional to think about,” she recalls. She credits College Now for giving her the push she needed to go back to school. “I just really appreciate College Now for all the help they’ve given me,” she says.
When thinking about plans for after she completes her nursing degree, Carmalita hopes to continue her work as an independent provider, but on a broader scale. She enjoys the one-on-one work she does with her clients and is motivated by their stories. Although Carmalita had to pause her college journey multiple times, she never lost her altruism – a quality that has carried her to where she is today.