Years after dropping out of school, this mother of 3 returned and earned bachelors degree with 4.00GPA

The director told me the state wouldn’t pay for me to stay anymore. I asked what I was supposed to do,” Jeanette says. “She said, ‘A lot of people go to college.’ I said, ‘OK, I guess I’ll do that.’”

Jeanette performed well on the SAT and was accepted into five colleges. She chose Fairleigh Dickinson University because it was close to her group home. But on move-in day, reality hit hard.

“Everyone was there with their parents, moving into the dorms. I showed up alone, carrying a black plastic bag with my clothes. I cried my eyes out. She left college just two months later,” she said.

After leaving school, Jeanette volunteered with AmeriCorps in one of New Jersey’s toughest school districts. The experience transformed her life.

“I wrote an after-school literacy program for children from kindergarten through eighth grade,” she said. “That year reignited my passion for teaching.”

Not long after, she met her husband, Miguel. For the first time, she felt the warmth of a large, loving family. The couple eventually moved to the Orlando area in Florida, where they raised three children.

Years later, Jeanette decided to return to school to pursue her lifelong dream of becoming a teacher. But when she met with an academic advisor, she received crushing discouragement:

“Are you sure you want to do this? If you failed once, you’re probably going to fail again.”

Jeanette left in tears. But her husband encouraged her not to let one person dictate her future.

With his support, she enrolled at Seminole State College and immediately began proving the doubters wrong. She earned straight A’s throughout her time there, graduating with a flawless 4.0 GPA while balancing coursework with motherhood.

After completing her associate degree, Jeanette transferred to the University of Central Florida through the DirectConnect program.

At first, stepping onto UCF’s large campus felt overwhelming. But she quickly became involved in student programs and academic initiatives. She earned scholarships, joined the McNair Scholars Program, participated in research opportunities, and remained active even during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Moving classes online actually helped me,” she says. “I could attend meetings on Zoom while making dinner for my family.”

Jeanette also participated in the Phillips Academy Institute for Recruitment of Teachers and completed virtual research studies at Vanderbilt University.

In addition to her studies, she volunteered in reading programs, book distribution initiatives, and community schools across Orlando. She eventually began full-time student teaching at Bentley Elementary School in Seminole County.

“When it was time to be in my own classroom, I was ready,” she said.

Now approaching graduation and her 36th birthday, Jeanette has been accepted into UCF’s master’s program in elementary education. Her long-term goal is to earn a doctorate and eventually become a school district superintendent.

“I’ve wanted to be a teacher my entire life,” she says. “I was the child who asked for a blackboard for Christmas.” Advising other parents or those who are in her age grade, Jeanette said it is never too late to return vback to school.

“There’s a misconception that there’s a point when you’re too old for college. It’s not easy juggling childcare, meals, and responsibilities — but you can do this. School is for you,” she said.

Reflecting on her journey, she says, “I’m so glad I leaped. Being a Knight has changed my life.”