If anyone at my age is considering going back to school, I would tell them to not be afraid, to know they will be accepted, especially at Bridgewater.
Despite a successful 30-plus-year career in marketing and business development, Tracy Blake, ’27, still felt the lack of a college degree was holding her back.
“When I was looking at job postings, it was hard to get through the automations, if the 'degree' box wasn’t checked, I started to find I wasn’t getting past the first round,” Blake said.
So, she decided to change that and took advantage of the state’s free community college program, earning her associate degree from Bristol Community College.
Blake then learned about Bridgewater State University’s Bridgewater Commitment program, which covers mandatory tuition and fees for in-state students from families earning $125,000 or less.
“That was a huge motivator, it was a game changer for me,” Blake said. “I’m not sure I’d be able to do what I’m doing without those programs.”
Today, at age 50, the mother of two is pursuing her degree in public relations with a minor in civic leadership. Her goal is to move into a career that focuses more on civic engagement, ideally as director of communications for a nonprofit.
She recently started working part -time as a member of the advertising team at the nonprofit Jewish Rhode Island newspaper and, for the past seven years, has volunteered for the Art of Fitness, another nonprofit organization.
“Volunteering really inspired me to change the trajectory of my career. I want to use my skills to have more of a social impact,” Blake said.
And, she said, BSU is helping her get there. With one semester under her belt, she feels more confident than ever. Blake even made the dean’s list last semester, something she thought was impossible. She also works as a tutor in the school’s education department.
“Right from the get-go, the support at Bridgewater has been unbelievable,” she said.
Blake has found her footing with support from admissions staff, professors and her classmates.
“I’ve never felt looked upon differently by anyone, even students who are at the age of and could be my children. Everyone treats me as an equal,” she said. “Everyone is here for the same reason; we all have the same goals. I’ve never felt out of place.”
After she collects her undergraduate degree from BSU, Blake isn’t done with higher education. Her next goal is to enroll in Bridgewater’s public administration graduate program.
The best part, she gets to show her daughter, Sharlett, 22, and son, Logan, 16, that it’s never too late. You can pivot at any point in your life to set and reach new goals.
“If anyone at my age is considering going back to school, I would tell them to not be afraid, to know they will be accepted, especially at Bridgewater,” Blake said. “I spent years wishing for these opportunities and look forward to being able to share and apply my knowledge to uplift others.”
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