At 42 years old, Jocelyn Heywood decided to go back to school at ENC and get her degree. She was a single mother. She had a job at MIT that she loved. She wasn't looking to climb up a corporate ladder. She wanted to earn her degree for herself.
Heywood found out about Eastern's adult and graduate studies program when a friend recommended she look into it. She attended a free info session where she had an opportunity to see a classroom and meet some of her teachers.
Heywood said getting to know her peers was one of her favorite parts of the program. She said she enjoyed sitting in a classroom with people who were all working toward a similar goal.
She also enjoyed the connections she made with her professors at ENC.
"The diversity in faculty was very important to me and being able to get to know the faculty in that short period of time was probably the most valuable thing I had gained being a student at ENC," she said.
Through the relationships she made and the things she learned in class, Heywood discovered her true calling – teaching.
For now, Heywood still works at MIT. She is now the administrator for the committee on academic performance.
After completing her bachelor's degree, Heywood decided to go on to pursue her master's at ENC. She expects that after she finishes that, she'll go on to get her doctorate as well.
Heywood said she chose to stick it out at ENC and continue her graduate learning there because of the environment. She liked being a part of a faith-based community.
Heywood said she is grateful for her time at ENC and hopes others will see the value in not only continuing their education, but in doing that in a classroom, surrounded by a strong community.