Years in the Making: A Determined Graduate Earns Her Degree

When Ashley Crawford crosses the stage at Montclair State University’s Spring Commencement, it won’t just be a significant academic achievement; it will also stand to show what years of determination, persistence and discipline can achieve.

Crawford’s path to earning a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies, with a concentration in Humanities and a minor in Ancient Mediterranean Civilizations, while working full time and caring for her family has been long and challenging but ultimately, worth it.

The Bayonne, New Jersey, native says, “The most rewarding and meaningful part of reaching Commencement has been the feeling of finally standing in a moment I once wasn’t sure I would get to.”

A nontraditional path back to the classroom

At just 17 years old, Crawford stepped into independence without a safety net, forced to rely on work simply to survive. “I started college right out of high school, but after my first year I had to step away because I simply couldn’t afford to continue,” she recalls. “At that point, I shifted my focus to working full time and figuring out how to support myself.”

She supported herself working in a variety of jobs, including a long period in the automotive industry working in sales, finance and customer service, and in her current full-time job: property management.

Despite having to work to pay the bills, Crawford, 36, never lost her drive and determination to reach her lifelong goal of becoming a lawyer. Knowing she needed a degree to reach that goal, she found her way back to school though a community college and in 2013, earned an associate degree.

“Even after that, my education didn’t follow a straight path,” she says. “I would take classes when I could, but most of the time I had to prioritize work and survival. There were long stretches where school had to wait because life didn’t leave much room for anything else.”

And for Crawford, “life” is pretty full. In addition to her full-time work and studies, she is a wife and mother of a 3-year-old son, a part-time bartender and actively involved in the local community through her hometown’s Elks Lodge, currently serving as the Esteemed Loyal Knight and co-chairing the drug awareness and peer leadership committees.

Turning commitment into action

Then last summer, after years of her education taking a back seat to her work and responsibilities, “Something shifted for me,” Crawford says. “I made the decision that I was going to finish my bachelor’s no matter what it took.”

She learned of Montclair‘s BA in Liberal Studies program and met with Academic Advisor Alicia Tucker to discuss her options.

“I had my initial meeting with Alicia and I told her that I was trying to do this quick. I wanted to do this in one year – two semesters,” Crawford recalls. “She was like, ‘This is going to be rough, but you know what, we’re going to get it done.’”

Learning from Tucker about CLEP (College-Level Examination Program), which allows students to earn credits by taking examinations instead of classes, Crawford took three CLEP exams to earn the credits. Tucker also helped build Crawford’s schedule – 18 credits one semester and 19 credits the following semester – a full course load.

“I’m very grateful to have met Alicia because she was really the final piece of the puzzle for me,” Crawford says, “because before I chose to go to Montclair, I was already enrolled at another college.”

The fact that the BA in Liberal Studies is a fully online program was also a big selling point for Crawford. “It worked out so well for me because I’m so busy – I’m working full time, I work part time, I’m a mom, I volunteer,” she says. “I just have so much going on, but it fit my schedule perfectly – so I’m very lucky for that.”

Tucker understands this. “As an academic advisor, I see how essential flexibility is for nontraditional students balancing work, family and life,” Tucker says. “The BA in Liberal Studies allows them to continue their education without putting everything else on hold.”

The power of a support system

In spite of the workload during her year at Montclair, Crawford made the dean’s list and was inducted into two honor societies: Tau Sigma for transfer students and Tri-Alpha for first-generation college graduates.

She credits much of her success to the support system around her. In addition to advising and academic support from the University, Crawford’s family and friends were a constant source of support.

“My husband stood beside me through long days and even longer nights, always encouraging me and reminding me why I started,” Crawford says, “and my best friends showed up in the ways that mattered most and made sure I never lost sight of myself along the way.”

Her greatest motivation, she says, has been her son. “I want him to grow up knowing that nothing is impossible, that you can achieve anything you set your mind to. Becoming his mom didn’t take me away from my dreams, it pushed me to chase them even harder.”

Next stop: law school

After graduation, Crawford isn’t planning to slow down. While continuing to build her career in property management and remaining committed to her role at home, she plans to take the LSAT this summer and apply to law school this fall for a fall 2027 start.

Thinking back over the past year, Crawford believes her journey reflects resilience, determination and the reality of pursuing an education while also building a life and supporting a family.

“I hope it can also show others that success doesn’t always follow a traditional timeline,” she says, “but consistency and hard work still lead to meaningful outcomes.”

This story is part of a series celebrating Montclair State University’s graduates – students who embody the University’s mission to broaden access to exceptional learning opportunities and contribute to the common good.

Ready to start your Montclair journey?

Prospective students: Learn more about Montclair’s BA in Liberal Studies program or apply to Montclair.

Journalists: Contact Montclair’s Media Relations team for assets or to schedule an interview.