Bridgewater was well prepared to help me improve my writing and my research skills. I learned how to problem solve and time manage.
When Jill Milton, ’94, arrived at Bridgewater State as a freshman, she had the passion to become a teacher but lacked the skills to first be a successful student.
Bridgewater, she recalled, was the perfect place for a first-generation student like her to grow academically.
“Bridgewater was well prepared to help me improve my writing and my research skills,” said Milton, who studied early childhood education. “I learned how to problem solve and time manage.”
Three decades later, Milton is back at her alma matter as a part-time instructor teaching math for aspiring elementary school educators. Her class helps students understand fundamental concepts at a deeper level, preparing them to effectively teach math in their careers.
Most of her students are in their first semester of college and remind Milton of herself as a college student.
“I have a lot of gratitude for what Bridgewater gave me,” she said. “I have a perspective now where I have the ability to help students as they transition from high school to college and build those skills they need.”
Milton encourages students to utilize the numerous academic and social emotional supports available on campus. She hopes to inspire them just as her professors left an indelible mark on her through their enthusiasm and commitment.
Milton credits an introduction to college class with establishing the foundational skills she lacked. While she initially had a low GPA, she became acclimated to a college environment and worked hard to steadily improve.
As she took classes within her major, she tapped into a longstanding passion for working with children. While growing up, Milton enjoyed spending time with her younger cousins and being a babysitter. As a Bridgewater student, she appreciated hands-on experiences in which she worked closely with Brockton youngsters.
“I remember leaving there and being a bit emotional,” she said. “I started to realize the opportunity I would have as a teacher working with students and having an impact on their learning.”
Milton began her career as an elementary school teacher and advanced to an administrator specializing in mathematics curriculum, data analysis and teacher professional development. Seeking more flexibility in her work life, Milton now runs a math tutoring business and teaches college classes.
She relishes the full-circle moments she experiences whenever she returns to her alma mater, a university she said was the essential backbone for all of her professional accomplishments.
“I love Bridgewater and its campus,” Milton said. “It’s a special place.”
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