Joyce Hines and Jacqueline Taylor went back to school with their children in mind, and Albertus Magnus College helped them succeed. Their stories are proof that it’s never too late to finish your degree and reclaim your future.
First Lady Dr. Jill Biden and U.S. Education Secretary Dr. Miguel Cardona visited the Horizons at Albertus Magnus College Program on July 20, 2022, as the first stop of their Summer Learning Tour. They joined students, teachers, and parents to spotlight the critical role summer learning plays in pandemic recovery. Two of those parents were Albertus students, Joyce Hines and Jacqueline Taylor.
Both mothers completed their undergraduate degrees from Albertus and are now earning their graduate degrees at the college. Their children are attending Albertus in their own way as students enrolled in the Horizons Program on campus.
Joyce Hines says Horizons is the support system her children needed to navigate a challenging learning environment.
“During the Pandemic, my children were unable to undergo the traditional learning experience. For them to be able to enter Horizons at Albertus Magnus College and receive this opportunity is amazing. The program is fundamental as well as fun for the children.”
It’s not just the program itself, but the location that is showing her kids, Kennedy and King, that their future is full of endless possibilities.
“Horizons at Albertus helped my children prepare for the upcoming school year. And being on the same campus where mommy earned her degree is exciting to them and encourages them to explore the campus.”
Joyce overcame challenges of being a single mother of three and completed her bachelor’s degree this past spring. Joyce isn’t stopping there– she is currently enrolled in the Master of Business Administration Program at the college and plans to graduate in 2023. She says the flexible schedule and accessible professors helped her see the finish line.
Jacqueline Taylor stopped attending college back in the early 2000s after her mother passed away.
“I tried to stay positive and strong all at the same time, but I didn’t have the strength to continue on, so I decided to take a short break.”
That short break ended up lasting over a decade.
“It bothered me for years because all I ever wanted was to go to school, receive my degree, and be a great role model for my children.”
In 2017, she turned her frustrations into action and got accepted into Albertus Magnus College as a psychology major.
“I was not going to stop until I reached my goals.”
She didn’t stop. After earning her bachelor’s degree at Albertus, Jacqueline is now enrolled in the Master of Science in Clinical Counseling Program at the college. She says part of what helped her continue her education was her student success coach.
“If I needed words of encouragement, she always helped, making me feel at home. Albertus helped me to overcome all types of adversity and prepared me not only for jobs but for dealing with many of life’s challenges.”
Jacqueline is seeing that same support and opportunity in the Horizons Program on campus for her son Bryce.
“This program has been a wonderful experience. Everyone is kind and welcoming, and it’s diverse and inclusive. Horizons is educational, and provides a safe and healthy environment which keeps the children engaged and lets them know they are cared about.”
Not only does she see the program as a safe space for Bryce, but she also sees it as a place where he can come out of his shell.
“When Bryce first started, he was shy, nervous, and in the midst of it all, he didn’t have much confidence. By the end of the program his first year, he didn’t want it to come to an end and was so excited to go back this year.”
Find all of our coverage, stories, and photos of the First Lady and Education Secretary’s visit here.