![Beatrice Muanya]( "Beatrice Muanya")
WELLESLEY HILLS, Mass. (May 11, 2021) — Beatrice Muanya of Milford, MA moved to the United States in 2013 from the central African country of Cameroon with her four children and her high school diploma. “One day I was talking to my children and they said, ‘Mom, go to college, earn a degree.’ That is really how it all started. They encouraged me to begin and they have been the driving force behind the pursuit of my degree,” said Beatrice.
“My oldest son had attended MassBay before transferring to the University of Massachusetts Boston to earn his bachelor’s degree in information technology, my other son is a high school teacher in Pennsylvania, my daughter is studying pre-med at the University of Massachusetts Lowell, and my youngest son is at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, so I understood the opportunities attending college would provide for me.”
“When the pandemic hit, it was difficult. My four children pitched in to teach me about technology and computers so I could complete my assignments remotely. During this time, my mother passed away in Cameroon. Of course, I wanted to go to Cameroon, but because of COVID, I was denied a visa. My heart was broken because I wanted to go home and give her a proper burial. It was a challenging time, but my children and Professors Liz Hannigan and Liz Watson supported me every step of the way. Due to everyone’s consideration and assistance, I will earn my associate degree and will be continuing my education after MassBay.”
Beatrice, who studies human services, is a full-time student and works full-time at a group home in Milford. She was inducted into the Psi Beta National Honor Society for students studying psychology and has a 3.7 GPA. Beatrice will graduate from MassBay in May 2021 with an Associate of Science Degree in Liberal Arts: Human Services and is transferring to William James College to pursue a bachelor’s degree in psychology and human services. Her career goal is to become a behavioral analyst.
“My children really pushed and encouraged me,” said Beatrice. “Even when I wanted to give up, they wouldn’t let me.”
MassBay Community College is the most affordable higher education option in MetroWest Boston, offering a robust portfolio of courses and more than 70 associate degree and certificate programs with flexible day, evening, and weekend classes in Ashland, Framingham, Wellesley Hills, and online. MassBay students receive an unmatched educational value by earning stackable credits that transfer to bachelor’s degree programs, and workforce-ready skills necessary to advance careers in high-demand fields such as health and life sciences, automotive technology, engineering, business, cybersecurity, and the humanities. MassBay’s Associate Degree in Nursing (RN) and Practical Nursing (LPN) programs were both ranked as the #1 Nursing Program in Massachusetts in 2020-2021 by national nursing advocacy organizations RegisteredNursing.org, and PracticalNursing.org. Since its founding in 1961, MassBay has been accredited by several governing bodies and remains firmly committed to its mission of meeting the needs of the diverse local communities it serves. We value the intrinsic worth of all individuals, collectively in pursuit of inclusiveness and prioritize our work towards achieving equity within our community and beyond.