Resilience

Transcript

We have an incredible story that will pull at your heartstrings. Norman is a father of four from Union Township, New Jersey. His story is the definition of resiliency. As he returned to college later in life, after navigating early life challenges. Norman, the floor is all yours.

– Thank you for that introduction, Alex. Hello, beautiful people. As you can tell, I am not your traditional student. I made a decision to give school a shot late in life. In fact, the last grade I completed was the eighth and that was shortly after I witnessed my father murder my mother. After researching schools, Union checked every box. Perfect on paper was one thing. It was the visit to the school that confirmed this was the perfect school for me. The staff inside of the Student Service Center not only helped me through this nerve-wracking enrollment process, they made me feel like a family. They were warm, patient, and encouraging. I had that same experience with the ALC and the professors. My school experience inspired me to do more than just attend classes. When I got involved in the project achievement program the clearer my vision became on a path I wanted to take career-wise. That program afforded me the opportunity to connect with students and staff in more than just a classroom settings. The more I served others, the more I learned about my strength, my skills, and my opportunity for self-improvement. Union offered more than just an academic experience. They offer well needed life experiences and the culture speaks volume to that. Whether I was struggling mentally, financially, or academically, I was able to get the support I needed in order to be successful. My experience of being a husband, father of four, and Union graduate has laid a strong foundation for the next part of my journey. One of my biggest takeaways from being a student is that there’s always more to be learned, both in and outside of the classroom. I now believe that a setback can be the foundation for a setup for success. I plan on continuing my education in the social service field. Now, back to you, Alex.

– Wow, what a moving segment. Norman, you embody resiliency and you continue to show everyone that a setback truly can turn into a set up for success. We look forward to seeing how high you and your family will soar.