While I would not change the paths I have taken in my life (well maybe a couple of them), I entered Wellesley in the fall of 2001, just a couple of weeks prior to 9/11. When I came to Wellesley, I was not an 18 year old fresh from home, but rather a 42 married mother of 3 (8,11 and 14) who had been given the chance to be a Davis Scholar and work to obtain my BA. When I was 18, I went to University of Oregon, lasted a year and went to nursing school in Ogden Utah where I received an AS in nursing. I was putting myself through school, so when I learned of the salary I could earn, I started working and never got a BS. I always felt that I had missed out, so when a friend encouraged me to apply and with my family's support I took the leap. The four years at Wellesley changed me in too many ways to write about. I graduated in 2005 with a BA in art history and because of the internships I managed while going to school and raising my family I was able to re-enter the workforce. My daughter and I graduated the same day in June, she from HS and me from Wellesley. It was one of the proudest days of my life. I went on to get a masters degree at Harvard Graduate School of Education and I know I would never have been able to have the confidence to reach these goals without the gifts that Wellesley gave me. Not only did I leave with a great education, but life long friends from the traditional and nontraditional communities. My life is so much richer because of Wellesley and my children saw their mom work hard and accomplish what she set out to do, which has inspired them to do the same.
http://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2011/10/earning-her-education-by-d...