{"id":219994,"date":"2023-01-30T07:00:03","date_gmt":"2023-01-30T12:00:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/newscenter\/?p=219994"},"modified":"2023-01-31T11:36:50","modified_gmt":"2023-01-31T16:36:50","slug":"finishing-what-they-started","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/newscenter\/2023\/01\/30\/finishing-what-they-started\/","title":{"rendered":"Finishing What They Started"},"content":{"rendered":"

Three generations of Natalie Duran\u2019s family cried, as did Jane Sanchez Swain, assistant director for Degree Completion Programs at Montclair State University. They were happy tears \u2013 in recognition of the spirit and sacrifices made by a working mom who returned to college after a 12-year absence to inspire her teenage daughter, embarking on her own college application process.<\/p>\n

Among the first cohort of nine students to successfully complete the Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies program from University College, Duran graduated with honors. She, along with fellow graduates Chris Taite, Crisaliz Soto and Martin Soto (no relation), attended a brunch held recently in their honor at the Center for Environmental and Life Sciences atrium, where they received official Montclair alumni pins, school paraphernalia and frames for the diplomas soon to arrive in the mail.<\/p>\n

\u201cToday we celebrate a special group of individuals that remind us that it is never too late to pursue your dreams and that neither age nor time should get in the way of going for what you want,\u201d Swain told the audience. \u201cWe acknowledge the accomplishments of the first graduates of the Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies program at Montclair State University, a program designed specifically for adults returning to college to complete their degree or as we like to say to \u2018finish what they started.\u2019 What you have accomplished on this journey in record time is outstanding.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"A
Natalie Duran (center, in red) shared her proud moment as a graduate of Montclair\u2019s BLS program with her family, which included three generations of women.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Duran, who lives in North Bergen, completed her BA in Liberal Studies with a concentration in Education Studies while juggling her full time jobs as an office manager for a real estate company, a wife and mother of two.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m really proud,\u201d Duran\u2019s teenage daughter Gianni Medina says in explaining her tears. The North Bergen High School sophomore recalls nights her mother worked hard on her coursework. \u201cWe’re all proud of her because we knew that she’s been talking about going back to school for so long.\u201d<\/p>\n

Medina\u2019s grandmother, Jenny Duran, beamed for her daughter: \u201cI\u2019m feeling very, very happy and proud of her.\u201d<\/p>\n

Duran says: \u201cReturning to school as an adult and a mother was scary but this was the perfect opportunity to return with the flexibility I needed to accomplish my goal.\u201d Classes are offered online and students do not have to pay any University fees.<\/p>\n

Duran was happy to have them share in her special moment. \u201cThey’ve been like my biggest support system. When I was in doubt, they were like, \u2018Just go for it.\u2019 So, it feels good that they’re here with me today. I’m feeling excited and happy. I can’t wait to see what’s next.\u201d<\/p>\n

Now armed with confidence and a bachelor\u2019s degree, Duran is considering going to graduate school to study higher education or counseling. \u201cWith all of this work we did for our bachelors, if I just have to do another two years, I’m okay with it,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n

Taite\u2019s Tale<\/h2>\n
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BLS graduate Chris Taite of Bayonne shares a moment with his grandfather Clifton Taite, who was on hand to celebrate his degree completion.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Chris Taite, who had left Montclair as an undergraduate six years earlier, returned to finish what he started as a promise to his father. While his father had a prior commitment and couldn\u2019t attend the brunch, Taite\u2019s two sisters, Nicole Taite-Combs and Anayka Pomare, and 81-year-old grandfather, Clifton Taite, were cheering him on. His father called three times and texted reminders to his daughters to take lots of photos. During an especially meaningful call, he told his son that he now realized that Taite had to complete his degree at his own pace.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe finally understood that, so that was a great conversation,\u201d Taite says. \u201cI was glad that I was able to show him. I kept my word. It was a nice way to end this chapter because there’s definitely more to come.\u201d<\/p>\n

Taite-Combs, Taite\u2019s eldest sister, a special education teacher who is preparing for her dissertation defense, and planning to graduate with a doctorate in organizational leadership with an emphasis on special education from Grand Canyon University, has been cheering him on every step of the way. She admired his work ethic, noting that after getting off work as a supervisor with ConEd, he would tackle his homework, whether it be reading about Greek mythology or writing a paper. \u201cI\u2019m super proud of him. He was so motivated and so excited,\u201d she says. \u201cChris is very humble. He’s not big on attention. So, I want him to know he deserves to be celebrated.\u201d<\/p>\n

Family patriarch, Clifton Taite, says in Spanish he\u2019s \u201cbien orgulloso\u201d or \u201cvery proud\u201d of his grandson.<\/p>\n

Taite, who earned a BA in Liberal Studies with a concentration in Humanities and a minor in Classics, says: \u201cThis was for me. It was about doing something for myself. To give them an opportunity to be proud of me and to come support me, it doesn\u2019t get better than that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Taite, who earned a work promotion during his studies and inspired a fellow ConEd coworker to return to school, plans on taking project management classes for his job and then is considering graduate school at Montclair.<\/p>\n

Soto’s Story<\/h2>\n
\"A
BLS graduate Crisaliz Soto of South Amboy (second from left) shares a laugh with (L to R) Success Coach Alicia Tucker, Assistant Director for Degree Completion Programs Jane Sanchez Swain and Graduate Student Administrator Rishon Bates.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

As a mother of four, including two special needs children and describing herself as having “learning disabilities” due to a brain injury, Crisaliz Soto found juggling a full-time job and schooling challenging but graduated with honors nonetheless.<\/p>\n

\u201cHaving children, learning disabilities and tons of responsibilities aren\u2019t reason enough to quit,\u201d says Soto, who enrolled at Montclair after a seven-year absence from college. \u201cI\u2019ve made my family proud.\u201d<\/p>\n

When Soto went up to receive her alumni pin, her 8-year-old daughter Karina said aloud, \u201cI love you, mommy!\u201d<\/p>\n

A beaming Soto, who is in the Army National Guard and who works with at-risk youth through the New Jersey Youth ChalleNGe Academy, a National Guard program, says her goal was \u201cshowing my girls that everything is possible if you really work hard.\u201d
\nSoto says the most challenging part of her Montclair journey was \u201cstaying on task and just balancing everything.\u201d<\/p>\n

A faculty that understands the juggling act often required of adult students made all of the difference for her, Soto says. \u201cThey all were so flexible and so willing to work with me that that made my academic journey so much easier. All my professors really helped me out, even the tough ones were willing to work with me as long as I worked hard.\u201d<\/p>\n

Now that she\u2019s done, \u201cI’m happy. I’m excited. I feel accomplished,\u201d she says. But she\u2019s not done yet. She says she\u2019s interested in pursuing a master\u2019s degree in social work.<\/p>\n

Another Soto Story<\/h2>\n
\"A
Martin Soto says education is a lifelong pursuit and it\u2019s never too late to graduate.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A retired senior manager, Martin Soto just planned to take classes offered to senior citizens at Montclair for no credit. Then Sanchez Swain called and told him about the BLS program, and he decided to go for it. The single father, who lives in Montclair, says jokingly that he tried to guilt his son, who lives in Maryland, for not attending the brunch.<\/p>\n

Soto, who retired from VF Corporation, says his job required many relocations, resulting in him acquiring many credits at various schools. The last time he took college courses was 12 years before enrolling at Montclair last year. In addition to believing that \u201ceducation is a lifelong process,\u201d Soto says he returned to demonstrate to his 11- and 15-year-old grandchildren that \u201cit is never too late to pursue your goals.\u201d<\/p>\n

The toughest part of completing his degree work was twofold: \u201cThe discipline and building my confidence. My inner voice was discouraging me and telling me I couldn’t do certain things but I did them.\u201d<\/p>\n

Soto says he\u2019s glad he stuck to it. \u201cI\u2019m proudest of overcoming all my fears and my doubts, and I\u2019m proud that I can show my grandkids it’s never too late.\u201d<\/p>\n

It\u2019s also never too late to want to make a mother proud. \u201cI wish my mom was alive,\u201d Soto adds poignantly.<\/p>\n

Soto, who is soon launching an English as a Second Language program in Montclair to give back to the community, graduated with honors and plans to pursue a master\u2019s degree in Urban Education.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s Next<\/h2>\n

As for what\u2019s just on the horizon for the newly minted graduates? In the short term, they all plan to participate in Montclair\u2019s Commencement in May and take their turn walking across the stage.<\/p>\n

Martin Soto said he was a little embarrassed at first but then realized, \u201cWhat is there to be embarrassed about? I’m going to come. I earned it. It’s mine.\u201d This time, his son will be in the crowd. As will Chris Taite\u2019s father.<\/p>\n

\"Jane
Assistant Director for Degree Completion Programs Jane Sanchez Swain congratulates the first graduates of the BLS program noting that in the course of obtaining their bachelor\u2019s degrees, they discovered \u201cmore about themselves, their ambitions, and their future pursuits.\u201d<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Two
Standing tall (L to R) Chris Taite, Martin Soto, Natalie Duran and Crisaliz Soto pose for a group photo at a brunch held to mark their achievements.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"People
Attendees at a recent brunch to celebrate the first graduates of Montclair\u2019s BLS program included faculty, staff and family members.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Story by Staff Writer Sylvia A. Martinez<\/a>. Photos by Narendra Singh<\/strong>.<\/p>\n