While she was working in the banking industry, Trudy Jefferson wasn’t thinking about returning to college to finish her degree. However, after her youngest daughter was born and diagnosed with sickle cell anemia, her circumstances changed. Jefferson resigned from her job to take care of her daughter, who needed numerous operations.

“I wanted to be at the hospital with her through each surgery but not working was difficult for me,” she said. “I began to feel fearful because I had become financially unstable. I was a divorced, single mother of five children, and I didn’t know how I was going to support them.”

To get by, she signed up for public assistance, something that was difficult for her to do but necessary to support her family. When her daughter started getting better, Jefferson started looking for a job and entered the EARN program to help her find employment. While she was in EARN, the director of the Keystone Education Yields Success (KEYS) program at Montgomery County Community College spoke to her about how KEYS could help her return to school and earn her degree.

There are many people at MCCC who have inspired me to keep pushing on. Because of their dedication and the passion they have shown me, I have reached my goal of receiving my associate’s degree.

“When I heard those words, I thought ‘wow, maybe this would be a chance for me to come back to school and complete my education. I always wanted to come back – why don’t I try?’” she said.

From the moment she stepped onto campus, she felt welcomed. She met with the KEYS program director and advisor. Through KEYS, she was encouraged to start volunteering.

“Community service helped me to develop leadership skills,” she said. “The KEYS staff recognized my talents and valued me enough to see where I could fit in and grow. They were genuine about helping me to succeed and develop as a person.” 

During her time at MCCC, she met teachers, advisors and staff who encouraged and helped her through her journey.

“KEYS also introduced me to scholarships, which I am very grateful for because they enabled me to stay in school and graduate,” Jefferson said. “I would not have been able to afford my education without the scholarships.”

Eventually, Jefferson started working for the KEYS program and giving back to others.

“I talked to students and helped them be successful at school. As a single mom, I knew what it was like balancing raising children with taking classes, and I could relate to what the students were going through and could help them. I was grateful I had the opportunity to mentor other KEYS students in the program and the ability to give back to the school,” she said.

Jefferson wanted to do more, which led her to start the SPARK Club (Single Parents Achieving and Raising Kids). The club did community outreach with the Pathways shelter for women and children.  Each year, they held a clothing and book drive and donated everything to the shelter.

After working with the KEYS program, Jefferson became an employee of MCCC and is now an administrative support secretary in the Student Success Center.

“Every day I have the opportunity to interact with and help students and visitors,” she said. “There are many people at MCCC who have inspired me to keep pushing on. Because of their dedication and the passion they have shown me, I have reached my goal of receiving my associate’s degree.”

Her next goal is to earn her bachelor’s degree. To do this, she is taking classes at Chestnut Hill College through MCCC’s University Center – a collaboration in which four-year institutions teach their classes on MCCC’s campuses.