Hi, I’m Deidre Romeo, a single mom with two beautiful daughters. Currently I work as the Legal/Executive Assistant for a global manufacturing company here in New Hampshire. Before working in a support staff role, I spent more than twelve years driving a truck for Federal Express in Massachusetts. The pay, benefits, and flexible work shifts at FedEx enabled me to support my family, both physically and financially. I moved from Massachusetts to New Hampshire more than a decade ago with the goal of purchasing a house, a place to really call “home” for my children. I accomplished this a little more than seven years ago. With the move to NH I had to change jobs. As a 35 year old woman with no college degree and work experience limited to driving a truck, I was forced to work two and sometimes even three jobs to keep food on the table. The manager of my first office position was a true mentor and told me almost daily that I was bright and capable and should get my degree. That was just not possible with my work schedules, caring for my children and home, and making sure I was available for the nonstop chauffeuring responsibilities required of a parent of children involved in sports, drama, babysitting, etc.
About three years ago, I woke up to the realization that MY life had changed. My oldest daughter had graduated high school, found a great job and was supporting herself in a small apartment just down the road. My youngest daughter was finishing up her junior year in high school, getting her license and not only needed less of my time and attention but begged for it! I had advanced at work to a position that allowed me to only work a second job two nights a week to support my household. That was the day I decided I could and would start college. That was the day my life took a huge change for the better. I immediately started researching my options and quickly found Granite State College to offer everything I was looking for; online classes for college, part time classes, Manchester NH Classes, Concord NH classes as well as college evening classes. Now, here I am three years later preparing to graduate in June with my adult college degree, a Bachelor of Science in Business Management.
My time here at GSC has been both challenging and rewarding. My studies have impacted both my professional and personal life in a very positive way. My knowledge, confidence and abilities have grown exponentially. I took on the role of GSC University System Student Board (USSB) Representative for the current academic year. In this position I have had the opportunity to become involved in the governance of the New Hampshire University System and it has broadened my understanding of the business side of academics. I have found myself comfortable in the role of advocate for my fellow students and our New Hampshire State College, GSC.
Now it is time for another new challenge; blogging! I am excited about venturing into the foreign world of blogging. I hope to use this opportunity and forum as an effective tool to communicate with the students, staff and faculty of Granite State College. I look forward to sharing my life and my college experiences with all of you.
In 2010 I earned my adult college degree from Granite State College in Business Management. My 23 year old daughter is now in the Business Administration program at White Mountains Community College. She chose this school because she is living in Berlin, NH for the next two years. She knew that once she received her Associates degree from this New Hampshire Community College she would be able to seamlessly transfer all of her credits to GSC to pursue her Bachelor's degree through the CCSNH Transfer program.
My daughter is worlds brighter than I but she loves to be able to come to me and ask for my assistance with any questions she may have regarding her assigned course work. To date, I have been able to help her with everything she has presented to me! I have had to pull out some of my own books and notes from the similar business classes I completed at GSC, but I have succeeded in helping her every time either through finding the correct answer or offering my personal insights. What a great feeling it is to know that earning my adult college degree not only improved my own life but it is helping my daughter in her life as well.
Unfortunately my business degree was of little consequence to me when it came to helping my younger daughter in her course work. Business and creative hairstyling have little in common. Below is my daughter on the right with her model from the Avante Garde hair styling fashion show she participated in for her studies in cosmetology. Thank goodness she did not ask for my advice in this undertaking!
I am thankful for the health and happiness of my family... I am thankful for my home... I am thankful for my job... I am thankful to those that serve for our country... I am thankful for my education...
What are you thankful for?
Five years ago before I began my adult college education I was not sure either of my daughters were even going to graduate from high school. Today my oldest is a full time adult college student striving to make the honor roll in her freshman year, my youngest has just graduated from Cosmetology school and I am working on my MBA degree.
It took me 25 years after high school to return and earn my adult college degree. It took my oldest daughter 5 years to return to school and my youngest two years. We are all ready at different times in our lives. When you are ready to continue your education, Granite State College will be ready to lead you along your journey.
I am thankful for the guidance, support and opportunities GSC offered me in my adult college program. I am thankful I have in turn been able to offer my children guidance, support and opportunities in their academic pursuits.
What is the most important lesson I learned at Granite State College? Dr. Stenho taught me the meaning of being a "lifelong learner." Before I began my adult college program at GSC I tried to stay close to what I knew. I rarely ventured far from what was familiar and comfortable to me in my professional duties. Today I jump at the opportunity to learn about something foreign to me. During my undergraduate studies I found that I loved research and had little trouble absorbing and retaining new information. Today I am involved in a re-branding project, digital marketing initiatives and search engine optimization (SEO). I have no experience or even any prior exposure to these business practices but feel comfortable in my role and responsibilities because of my ability to accomplish thorough research, ask questions and take chances.
Are you 30+, 40+, 50+? Do you believe your age diminishes your value in the workplace? In the world place? Well I am here to tell you it does not, it adds to your value in all spaces. With my new adult college degree from Granite State College and my new title from my recent promotion I am receiving numerous unsolicited job offers from the worldwide marketplace.
Below is a picture of the 7 year old dog I adopted from a rescue this week. The last thing I needed was a puppy, similar to a recent 22 year old college graduate!
I am a seasoned and informed consumer. When I started looking to add to my family I knew I did not want to start with an impressionable, undisciplined, unreliable and inexperienced dog. I went for a dog that may not be the cutest but is certainly reliable and intelligent. She knows the way of the world. She understands that I will return everyday and take her out so she can relieve her bladder, therefore she does not feel it is necessary to relieve herself on my hardwood floors!
Her life has not been an easy one. She was used to breed in a puppy mill and her health and well being was neglected. As a result she has lost all but 3 of her teeth. Because of the lack of teeth her tongue often falls out of the side of her mouth as a result of there being no teeth to hold it in! She is not the youngest, the cutest or the best breed animal available for me to invite into my family but she was the right choice.
The same can be said for us seasoned, adult learners. We are not he prettiest but we may be the brightest and most valuable in today's workforce. Are you contemplating the idea of starting your adult college program? Stop thinking about it and pick up the phone and speak to one of the informed, compassionate and real advisers at Granite State College.
My 23 year old daughter started her adult college program this week. She not only asked me to attend her orientation day at White Mountains Community College in the North Country but asked me to accompany her shopping for her back-to-school supplies. I was able to help Brittany choose her courses and class schedule because she trusted my knowledge and advice in this new challenging era of her adult life.
Brittany chose a community college because she could not find full-time work in the north country so she decided to attend school full-time instead. She only expects to be living in Berlin for the next two years so she knows once she receives her Associates degree from WMCC she can easily transfer all of her credits to Granite State College to earn her B.S. degree as GSC has pre-approved transfer degree programs with all NH Community Colleges.
Receiving my adult college degree has earned me respect from many people. The respect it has earned me from my own daughter is really the only one that matters.
I have always believed it important to not only talk the talk, but to walk the walk, when it came to teaching my children. I have tried to accomplish this throughout the past 23 years of motherhood. It is not always what we did do but often, what we did not do, that our children pay attention to.
My daughter was very proud of me when I graduated with my adult college degree last year. It got her thinking of going back to school herself but although she talked about it she never took any action towards this stated goal. The very same week my promotion at work was announced, my 23-year-old-daughter enrolled as a full-time student at a local New Hampshire State College.
As soon as my daughter realized the opportunity offered to me as a direct result of my academic accomplishments she realized there was no reason she had to wait until her mid-life for the same opportunities.
No matter what your age, an adult college degree will open doors, present opportunities and offer new and exciting challenges. I will not be surprised to find myself working for my daughter in 5-10 years!
To my daughter Brittany; you have always been bright, beautiful, ambitious and highly capable. Now that you have decided to begin your adult college program, the world is yours for the taking.
You continue to make me proud of the young woman you are today and will undoubtedly become. I am grateful you have made different life decisions than I, you will thrive in your academic pursuits and enjoy the benefits of your education for a lifetime.
I graduated from Granite State College with my B.S. in Business Management degree one year ago this month. Where am I now? What have I been up to? What has changed for me as a result of attaining my adult college degree?
I am presently pursuing my MBA degree at Plymouth State College. Did you know that GSC now offers a Graduate degree in Project Management? Unfortunately it was not offered at the time I began my graduate program but it is available now for any current and future graduates.
Since my graduation one year ago I have been blessed with the opportunity to travel. I actually took two trips in the past year. One to Ireland with my eldest daughter and one to Kauai, HI with friends.
Today, as a direct result of my academic accomplishments, my company president announced my promotion from Legal/Executive Assistant to Global Communications Manager. I am very excited about this wonderful new professional challenge. This opportunity would not have been offered to me without the accomplishment of my adult college degree. What professional opportunities are you missing out on?
Do not take my path and wait 20+ years to enroll in your first adult college program. Do it now! If you are apprehensive, contact me and I will walk you through the process. As in any life pursuit, the hardest part is starting.
The inspiring story below is that of John, another ALA Scholarship Recpient for 2011. John is just one more example of the unique and diverse student population you will find within the classrooms or on the blackboards of Granite State College.
My educational journey has encompassed self-learning for most of my life after high-school. My father passed away when I was in seventh-grade and I was a C+ student in a Catholic High School in Lawrence, MA. I began college in Maine intending to study Marine Biology but being a mediocre student I needed student loans to cover all of my expected expenses. I dropped out several weeks after the start for fear of mounting student loan debt. At eighteen I entered the workforce as a high-school graduate, married my wife in 1981 and began a family in 1983. As expected my job choices were very limited but I held a desire to enter the technology field. After much research I chose Sylvania Technical School and entered the Telecommunications Electronics program using student loans once again, but these were limited and controllable. Our first daughter, Bethany, was born with a heart defect and passed away after heart surgery at 7-days old. Our second daughter, Noelle, was born just over a year later in 1984 but was diagnosed with Muscular Dystrophy at 1-year. Her care was a significant part of our existence and it took a huge effort on my part to attend Sylvania Tech three days per week at night after my job to attend classes in addition to sacrificing that time away from my family, but it was for their benefit that I was educating myself to better position me for employment that provided a living wage and benefits that we so dearly needed for Noelle’s care. Just before I graduated in 1988 with a diploma I interviewed for an Information Technology position at Raytheon and because of the reputation of Sylvania Tech and my grades I was hired as a Data Communications Field Tech.
Wentworth Institute of Technology purchased Sylvania Technical School before I completed my program so my diploma bore the Wentworth name. Because of this relationship Wentworth Institute of Technology in Boston offered graduates of Sylvania/Wentworth Tech advance standing entry into an A.A.S. in Electronic Technology degree program. Raytheon’s tuition reimbursement benefits were significant enough to allow me to attend one course per semester at their Boston campus and continue my career college training. It took me five years from 1992 till 1997 to complete my associate degree. Five years of time and travel into Boston and precious time away from my family. Nights and weekends I worked at our kitchen table on study and research while my family patiently gave me the time I needed for my studies. My wife supported my endeavor by taking on additional care responsibilities for our daughter. I wanted to complete my associate degree so that I could advance my career, become a better provider, and show my growing daughter that education is important and is a lifelong endeavor. Noelle passed away on the second-to-last day of a wish trip to Disney on May 19, 1996. My life was shaken for months after that event. I did not attend the spring or summer semesters that year but eventually wanted to complete that degree for my daughter. Two more semesters and I was finally able to dedicate my degree to Noelle during graduation on May 18, 1997, one day short of the first anniversary of her death.
Afterward I honestly didn’t have the drive to continue my education at Wentworth. Like many parents who have lost children I grieved by immersing myself in my work. I continued to attend annual technical training to hone my information technology skill-sets which made me a more valuable employee but every year that passed I still thought about completing my degree. After graduating Wentworth I worked with a recruiter from Boston in a job search. He informed me that he would not be able to even get me into some corporate doors for interviews without having at least a bachelor’s degree. Fortunately after interviewing at Lahey Clinic Medical Center they valued my technical skills more than my education and hired me as a Data Communications Engineer. Each year that followed I have given consideration to completing my adult college degree but talked myself out of it. Each year I thought, “if I had only begun last year I would almost be done”. Well after a close scrutiny and self-assessment a couple of years ago about my past, present, and future life and career I decided to take that first step to completing my B.S. I realized that as I grow older I am handicapped from further career growth without completing an adult college degree, B.S. After almost twenty-five years working in technical positions in the field of information technology I find myself desiring to move into a leadership/management position within my current field of healthcare IT.
I began the next iteration of my education journey in the spring of 2009 with Granite State College. I discovered that the program for Applied Studies: Allied Health Services was tailor made to my career. I have almost twenty-five years of technical experience but I needed to round out my business skills that are so valued in industry. This B.S. will give me the necessary business skills with a slant toward the healthcare field that I currently work in, providing a targeted learning environment for me. I began this degree program intending to provide myself and my wife “career insurance” to update and round out my skills, make me a more valuable employee and insure my future ability to provide a home and life for the both of us. That goal has morphed over the course of the past two years, sparking my interest in pursuing an advanced degree after I complete my B.S. this spring at GSC. Plymouth State offers a M.B.A. in Healthcare Administration, an ideal advanced degree for my career plans to remain in healthcare.
After spending over a decade caring for our daughter, Noelle, at home and in Boston Children’s Hospital I would never have imagined that I would be working in the healthcare field yet here I am. My education has been a struggle of work/life/family/financial balance yet we have accomplished much with the time we have had together. I dedicated my A.A.S. to my daughter, Noelle. I plan to dedicate my pending B.S. to my loving wife, Kathy, for her patient support during these past two years and God willing I will dedicate my future M.B.A. to everyone who has supported me and my family. We have a great deal of loving family and friends in our lives, some have been treated at Lahey Clinic, my employer, and at least one had his life saved at Lahey with a liver/kidney transplant. I am proud to dedicate my career to such an institution and hope that my continued education will allow me opportunities to serve in greater capacities. I plan to achieve my B.S. before I am fifty-years old. I still have between fifteen and twenty career years in front of me; I plan to contribute further to the success of Lahey Clinic’s service to our community, friends, and family. I may have started as a mediocre high-school student but I believe with time and continued commitment to the goals I set and achieve for my benefit and also for my wife I am gaining back the opportunities I missed in my youth. Two more semesters and I will have achieved this next goal while I plan yet further!
Please visit John's website to learn more about his personal accomplishments.
Below is the story of one amazing Granite State College student that I came across when reviewing application essays for the GSC ALA Scholarship this past spring. With a student such as Lori in your classroom, you not only learn with her, but from her. "You may have seen the ad for Dyson vacuum cleaners. James Dyson tells how he tried some 5,000 times to get the vacuum cleaner design and function he wanted, but he didn’t give up, and it culminated in the popular Dyson Ball. I am drawn to stories of people determined to reach a goal probably because I feel I can relate especially in my quest for education beyond high school.
I loved growing up on a farm in the Midwest, but the path of least resistance would have been to live and work for the rest of my life in the small town six miles down the road. I came from hard-working parents who believed higher education was good for those who knew exactly what they wanted to do and had the money to do it. At age 18, I knew this left me out on both counts, but somehow I was going to navigate my way in an unfamiliar world by myself.
I believe a curiosity about so many things and a love of learning has been wonderful, but for the last 30 years it’s also made finding my place in the working world a challenge. I have always enjoyed creating/designing, organizing spaces, history, and what makes people do what they do to name a few. If an entry level job, which has been what I’ve been qualified for, didn’t have any of the above attributes nor the potential for advancement, it didn’t hold my interest over the long term. I always felt that going back to school to tqake adult college courses could increase my options for a better job so I took courses here and there, but I allowed myself only a certificate program time commitment which proved to be too narrow in scope.
Over the years, my quest for an adult education diploma had become a common theme of hope for the future. I was accepted into an adult college program, but got married and we had to move too far away for me to attend. However, for the next eight years I pursued and finished an Associate’s Degree while working part-time and raising a family. Later, during my divorce when my kids were in middle school, survival and stability became the priorities. After a few years, I was accepted into another adult college program at a local university. As I was making plans to go to college fulltime, diagnosis of a serious illness turned my world upside down. Surgery, treatment and keeping life positive at home for my kids put education on the back burner once again.
Nearly two years ago with my kids out on their own, I made plans again to pursue a Bachelors degree. To make this work financially, I sold, donated and discarded most of my possessions. I started at Granite State College, but I needed some direction. Through introspection, good advising, and taking SDLR 550, I realized a self-design program in Gerontology was a good choice for me. At 54, accumulating educational debt when I ought to be planning for retirement seems counterintuitive, but I now have hope for my future. I want to flourish in life, not just survive it.
Gerontology, is the study of the process of aging, across the life span, whose multi-disciplinary aspects include physical, mental, social and spiritual changes in people as they age. Much of my interest comes from a deep affection and respect for the elderly which has developed over my lifetime. This has been supported by many influential experiences with elderly relatives. My dear grandmother wasn’t conventionally domestic, but we spent countless hours on a creek bank just talking and fishing. She was a young widow who didn’t drive and was dependent on people for transportation, but she was a lady with a very independent spirit.
Older persons inspire and fascinate me with their personal perspectives of historical events. I’ve enjoyed talking with people who lived through the Great Depression, served in wars, and some who survived the holocaust. The residents I’ve come to know while working at RiverWoods, a CCRC, have experienced the benefits and joys of family, higher education, and financial success. All gracefully persevere through the loss of family, friends, and health.
I can’t tell you exactly what I want for a position, but I feel that my determination toward this degree will afford me more employment options and opportunities hopefully helping the elderly flourish at whatever age they are. As independent as I tend to be, I realize the importance of interdependence and the reciprocal nature of giving and receiving. I appreciate the opportunity to apply for this scholarship as it will help me achieve my goal. I look forward to being in a position helping others achieve their goals and unlocking their own potential regardless of age."
Attending school as a non-traditional adult student is not always easy. Family and professional commitments can often be unexpected and take priority weekly adult college classes. Granite State College offers flexible class schedules such as adult college classes, online classes for adults and weekend college classes.
I had the incredible opportunity to vacation in Kauai, Hawaii this past May and was able to commit to the week last year with little concern of it interfering with my adult college program due to the availability of flexible class schedules. I earned an "A" in my spring marketing class as it was a weekend intensive course which allowed me the flexibility to accomplish the coursework on my own schedule while taking a week to enjoy the sun, scenery and hospitality offered on the island of Kauai.
If you want to learn more about the flexible class schedules available at GSC or about the amazing adventures and beauty awaiting on the island of Kauai, Hawaii, ask me. I am happy to share my experiences with you.
Have you ever had the option of weekend college classes? There is no academic experience like it. I try to attend at least one intensive weekend college course every year. This year my weekend course included a white-knuckled drive up North due to the unexpected snow storm we experienced on April 1st! The drive was worth every tense moment for what I gained through the weekend. One of the unique advantages of attending school in an adult education program environment is the diverse and eclectic group of students sitting alongside you.
My fellow students ranged from seasoned professionals, some of whom had already earned a master's degree, to 22-year-old recent graduates yet to enter the workforce. The learning outcome in the weekend course environment is enhanced greatly by the personal, professional and academic experiences of those in attendance. This is something that is not attainable at a traditional weekday college course.
Of course the competence, enthusiasm, knowledge and experience of the faculty of any education and career advancement class is of equal importance. Most of the professors of adult college classes have spent many years working outside of the college environment in their fields of expertise. During my most recent weekend college class we had professors who are published authors, current and former business owners and valuable community leaders in attendance.
Our weekend experience ended with our professor belting out Sinatra's "I did it my way!"
Today I had the immense pleasure and honor to be involved in the ALA Committee tasked with granting $1,000 scholarships to 10 deserving Granite State College students. This was not an easy duty to carry out as there were many deserving adult college program students who we were unable to offer scholarships to.
After a consensus of the committee determined the scholarship recipients we were each tasked with calling to inform and congratulate the students of their award. This was, without a doubt, the best part of the entire process. I thoroughly enjoyed my conversations with both of the recipients I personally spoke with. One of the two students actually recognized me from this blog!
I hope to be able to share the stories of these scholarship recipients in future blogs as they are truly inspiring and empowering. There are so many paths, so many moments and so many dreams that bring adult learners to the point in their lives where they finally enroll in an adult college degree program. The stories of those awarded and those who we were unable to award scholarships to are all important and unique.
Please watch for their stories in my future blogs.
Today was an exhausting Saturday which included the open house of a friend’s Tae Kwon Do studio and a birthday party of another friend. I came home, collapsed on the sofa and turned on the TV to sit back and relax for the evening. WCVB was showing The Pursuit of Happyness; what a great, inspirational movie. The movie was based on the real-life experiences of Chris Gardner. Mr. Gardner began his pursuit of “happyness” as an unpaid intern at Dean Witter. I began mine as a student at Granite State College, enrolling in adult college classes. I was never homeless and have yet to make it to the status of a “millionaire” so it is doubtful a movie will be made of my personal pursuit but nonetheless, I have achieved my own “happyness” through my academic accomplishments.
What are you pursuing? What changes are needed to find your own personal “happyness?”
It is that time of year again, the time for the ALA Board members, friends, family and staff of Granite State College to participate in several fundraising events to raise money to enable the offering of $1,000 scholarships to up to ten students working towards their adult college degree at our unique NH State College.
To be considered for an Alumni Merit Scholarship, GSC students:
• Must be an undergraduate enrolled in a degree program, or a student enrolled in the Post-Baccalaureate Teacher Certification Program. • Must have completed a minimum of twenty-four credits at Granite State College. • Must have completed a minimum of four terms at Granite State College. • Must have a 3.5 grade-point average or better.
I was one of the lucky ten who received this scholarship in 2009. It enabled me to be able to take an extra course that year and graduate the following June with my classmates. Last year I participated in the fund raising phone-a-thon as a way to “pay-it-forward” to the next generation of scholarship recipients. This past weekend I once again spent my Sunday afternoon at the Granite State College Concord NH college campus to reach out and call past donors and alumni to ask for their contribution to this great cause. This year was no different than last; the generosity of the alumni, staff and faculty of Granite State College is heartwarming to say the least. Many of those currently experiencing difficult times still offered to donate $10.00 and those in better circumstances asked to increase their donation amount from last year.
Thank you to all of those I spoke with this past weekend. Your generosity, commitment and well wishes to the current students of GSC working towards their own adult college degree are well received and appreciated.
The day I gave birth to my first child I knew my life had changed and I would be a "mother" for the remainder of my lifetime. Both my daughters are now in their 20s, independent and living on their own. My role as a mother has changed over the years but I am still their mother and enjoy every new aspect of my ever changing parental role. Presently my role is to be an adviser, friend and supporter. I am thankful that I am still young enough to be able to enjoy adventures and experiences with my daughters. Below is a picture from my trip to Ireland with my 22 year old daughter. We went sea kayaking in Dingle Bay Ireland.
Although the adventure above and entire trip to Ireland was a celebration of my adult college degree, my learning is far from over. I knew by the second semester of my adult college program at Granite State College that my life had once again changed and I would be a "lifelong learner" for the remainder of my lifetime. Presently I am finishing up my fourth graduate course in the pursuit of my MBA. Even outside of my academic pursuits, I live everyday questioning, researching and learning from all of the experiences and situations presented to me. Gaining knowledge and understanding from all the resources in my life energizes me and motivates me to continue my daily living, learning and happiness.
I may have become a mother at the young age of 21 but my role as a lifelong learner did not begin until the age of 40. When did you begin your journey as a learner of life, experiences and knowledge? If you have not yet started this role in your life what are you waiting for? Do you have questions, anxiety, apprehension of taking on this role? If so contact me as I am happy to share my story and experiences with you.
Being ignorant on a topic of conversation is not bliss. Asking questions and learning about a new topic is much closer! Before I started my journey on participating in adult education courses I would simply smile and nod or walk away when I did not understand the topic of conversation at work, a party, or any social gathering I found myself in. I used to believe if I pretended to know what people were talking about I would appear to be more intelligent than I actually was.
In my adult college courses at Granite State College I learned that asking questions was a sign of intelligence. I was never berated or looked down upon for not knowing something. I was only praised for asking questions in my quest to learn and understand. I have been able to successfully incorporate my inquisitive mind into both my personal and professional lives. I do not even hesitate to ask for clarification or an explanation during a business meeting if I do not understand a term or strategic model being discussed. If I am on a date with someone in a profession I have little knowledge or experience with, I am completely comfortable asking them to explain what it is they actually do.
Thanks to the confidence and experience Granite State College has instilled upon me I have learned that asking questions in most all circumstances is a true sign of intellect. Ignorance is weakness; ignorance is the result of a lack of knowledge, not the lack of intelligence.
My 22-year-old daughter has finally decided to start her adult education program!!!! I have no doubt my success has influenced her. I am a big believer in walking the walk and not just talking the talk.
My daughter is bright, driven and ambitious. I have no doubt she will succeed in her aspirations and even exceed in her own expectations.
The things you learn in an adult college program… I remember taking a walk in Oak Park, IL many years ago with a friend from high school. She pointed out a couple homes and commented on them being Frank Lloyd Wright creations. I had no interest; they simply appeared to be boring little homes to me. Some ten plus years later I found myself immersed in adult college courses, one being World Architecture to satisfy my global arts requirement. This is where I was introduced to the work of Frank Lloyd Wright and found a true love for all architecture. I also learned that we had a Frank Lloyd Wright home, the Zimmerman house, available for touring right here in New Hampshire! The Currier Museum of Art in Manchester offers several weekly tours of the home. Among the different tour options is one called, “The Four Seasons at the Zimmerman House.” These tours include admittance to the museum with wine and cheese served and live music at the home during the tour.
I finally booked tickets for the winter season tour and invited a couple friends. When the night arrived I discovered one of my friends had taken the same course at Granite State College and the other friend had no idea what she was coming to see when she met up with us but almost immediately became emotional when she realized it was a tour of a Frank Lloyd Wright home. She knew little of him or his work but remembered that her deceased mother had been a huge admirer of Wright’s architecture. She asked the guide how long the home had been open to the public and was so disappointed when she learned it had opened to the public almost two years before her mother’s death. Had she known, she would most definitely have taken her mother. The home was amazing and we all enjoyed every minute of it. During the tour we learned that “Falling Waters,” another amazing home of Wright’s is also open to the public in Pennsylvania. We have all vowed to take a weekend trip together this summer to tour this home as well. My adult college degree did not just educate me on business but opened my eyes and mind to many new experiences and interests.
Hi, I’m Deidre Romeo, a single mom with two beautiful daughters. Currently I work as the Legal/Executive Assistant for a global manufacturing company here in New Hampshire. Before working in a support staff role, I spent more than twelve years driving a truck for Federal Express in Massachusetts. The pay, benefits, and flexible work shifts at FedEx enabled me to support my family, both physically and financially. I moved from Massachusetts to New Hampshire more than a decade ago with the goal of purchasing a house, a place to really call “home” for my children. I accomplished this a little more than seven years ago. With the move to NH I had to change jobs. As a 35 year old woman with no college degree and work experience limited to driving a truck, I was forced to work two and sometimes even three jobs to keep food on the table. The manager of my first office position was a true mentor and told me almost daily that I was bright and capable and should get my degree. That was just not possible with my work schedules, caring for my children and home, and making sure I was available for the nonstop chauffeuring responsibilities required of a parent of children involved in sports, drama, babysitting, etc. 
My educational journey has encompassed self-learning for most of my life after high-school. My father passed away when I was in seventh-grade and I was a C+ student in a Catholic High School in Lawrence, MA. I began college in Maine intending to study Marine Biology but being a mediocre student I needed student loans to cover all of my expected expenses. I dropped out several weeks after the start for fear of mounting student loan debt. At eighteen I entered the workforce as a high-school graduate, married my wife in 1981 and began a family in 1983. As expected my job choices were very limited but I held a desire to enter the technology field. After much research I chose Sylvania Technical School and entered the Telecommunications Electronics program using student loans once again, but these were limited and controllable. Our first daughter, Bethany, was born with a heart defect and passed away after heart surgery at 7-days old. Our second daughter, Noelle, was born just over a year later in 1984 but was diagnosed with Muscular Dystrophy at 1-year. Her care was a significant part of our existence and it took a huge effort on my part to attend Sylvania Tech three days per week at night after my job to attend classes in addition to sacrificing that time away from my family, but it was for their benefit that I was educating myself to better position me for employment that provided a living wage and benefits that we so dearly needed for Noelle’s care. Just before I graduated in 1988 with a diploma I interviewed for an Information Technology position at Raytheon and because of the reputation of Sylvania Tech and my grades I was hired as a Data Communications Field Tech. 
"You may have seen the ad for Dyson vacuum cleaners. James Dyson tells how he tried some 5,000 times to get the vacuum cleaner design and function he wanted, but he didn’t give up, and it culminated in the popular Dyson Ball. I am drawn to stories of people determined to reach a goal probably because I feel I can relate especially in my quest for education beyond high school.
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