Sabrina Howell Pruitt went to college right out of high school, but life had other plans. "I wound up getting pregnant. Motherhood took over. That's what I did until my kids grew up."
For more than three decades, she put her education on hold while raising her daughter and son. "I always wanted a degree. Once they were grown and ventured out on their own, I said it was time to go to college and get a degree."
In August 2023, at age 51, Pruitt enrolled at Onondaga Community College. She was a first-generation college student, and the transition back to the classroom wasn't easy. "I didn't know what to expect. It was hard. I struggled at first." But once she connected with the C-STEP and TRIO support programs for students, everything changed. "It was like a big family to help me succeed in classes and life. Once I got the hang of it, everyone had open arms and made me feel comfortable."
Pruitt's desire to have a career helping others led her to pursue both a Human Services degree, and a Direct Support Professional certificate. She excelled in class, becoming a Meg O'Connell Social Justice Scholar and a member of the Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society. During the fall semester, she started an internship at L'Arche, a community organization that supports adults with intellectual disabilities.
After Pruitt graduates next May, she plans to continue her education and earn a bachelor's degree. She's doing it for herself - and her two children. "I want to set an example for my kids that it doesn't matter what age you are, you can go back and do what you want to do at any age."
