After spending six months in prison, a 47-year-old woman named Margaret Hall has defied the odds and rewritten her story by earning three degrees in just five years in the United States.
Margaret was convicted of a Class C felony and spent six months behind bars. But after her release, she made a life-changing decision—to return to school and build a better future for herself and her children.
As a former inmate, Margaret faced stigma, self-doubt, and countless hurdles. Yet, she remained focused and resilient. She began her academic journey at Glendale Community College and later transferred to Arizona State University (ASU) to continue her studies ignoring the challenges.
“Strive for bigger dreams and bigger goals. I didn’t want my children to think that was going to be the last chapter of my story,” she said.
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Margaret, a mother of six, pushed through five years of non-stop academic work, taking no summers off and no breaks. Her hard work paid off—She earned three degrees, including a master’s degree in Interdisciplinary Studies and Prelaw from ASU.
Throughout her education, she also received several scholarships, including one from the Jeannette Rankin Foundation, which supports women over 35 who are pursuing higher education.
Her motivation was to inspire her children and to show them that being an ex-convict does not stop her from achieving her goal. “I didn’t want my children to think that was going to be the last chapter of my story,” she said.
She also shares a piece of advice with others who may be in a similar predicament, “It’s not where you start, but it’s where you end up.” She earned her third degree, a master’s degree in Interdisciplinary Studies, and Prelaw at Arizona State University.
Now, with her degrees in hand, she’s setting her sights on starting a grant-writing business to help nonprofit organizations empower others chasing a second chance—just like she did.
In another story, a young African lady named Annie Nakushwela who used to work as a security guard to pay her school fees has finally graduated as a Nurse.
Annie Nakushwela is a Zambian native who worked as a security guard while studying to become a Nurse at Levy Mwanawasa Medical University
She took to her Facebook to celebrate her achievement of finally graduating as a Nurse. While working as a security guard, Annie was determined to have a career as a clinical Nurse.
With determination, Annie gathered her tuition fees, working as a security guard while juggling her studies. Read more about Annie HERE.
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