Meet Coleen C.

Human Services graduate

When Coleen ran away from home at 16 years old, she never thought a high school diploma, let alone a college degree, was in the cards for her. Now, a Hudson Valley Community College graduate with a degree in Human Services, she continues to strive for more.

When Coleen isn’t attending classes or spending time with her husband and children, she’s working as assistant director of residential services at St. Anne Institute in Albany, an organization that she started working for at 19 years old. Passionate about her work, Coleen started itching for an education.

“I’ve always wanted to go back to school, so I developed a plan with my supervisor as to how I could go back to school part time to get my high school diploma,” said Coleen. “The people here were helping me along the way to map out how I can do all of it.”

After obtaining her High School Equivalency diploma, Coleen decided to continue her academic journey at Hudson Valley and work towards earning an associate degree in Human Services. She found herself learning so much about a field she had been passionate about for years and able to bring the skills she had been learning, back to her job.

“When you work in human services, things change so much,” said Coleen. “You have to be open to learn in different ways and to navigate how to reach the kids. So going to Hudson Valley has pretty much enhanced that. I got more tools for my toolbox and I’ve had a great experience.”

As someone who originally gave up hope of getting an education, Coleen says her journey still feels surreal.

“Every time I do my schedule with my advisor, I’m in tears. I’m always like ‘I can’t believe I’m doing this,’” said Coleen.

With a full schedule of family, work and school, Coleen has found herself relying on her support system - her family, Hudson Valley faculty and staff and her St. Anne’s supervisor Terri Boland - to keep her motivated through the challenges that she faced.

“With working such a demanding job and having to go to school with school-age kids, it really has been a challenge,” said Coleen. “My husband has been by my side and holding it down, getting the kids from school and doing homework. Having my family, my mom, my sisters along the way when I feel like giving up, having those conversations with people who are invested in me and my future, has kept me on track.”

Coleen says the faculty at Hudson Valley has been supportive when she was overwhelmed with responsibilities.

“Hudson Valley is an amazing school,” said Coleen. “The professors are top notch, and I’ve had great experiences with them understanding the flexibility I needed while I was trying to balance my internships and school and all of these different work hours and my family.”

After graduation in May, Coleen plans on moving into a different position at St. Anne’s while pursuing a bachelor’s degree in social work with hopes of one day becoming a therapist.