肯尼亚·戈德特

米里亚姆·古尔丁, graduating from bet8体育娱乐入口 is more than just a step forward in her career goals. It’s also a continuation of her late mother’s legacy: service to mankind.

“这是给我女儿们的. 这是给我妈妈黛安娜的，”她说. “She helped everybody; my mom would literally give you the shirt off her back.”

Gourdine, a transfer student from Virginia Peninsula 社区 College, began pursuing a bachelor’s degree at ODU in the fall of 2021. “It was always between human services and social work,” she said.

She eventually committed to the human services track with a concentration in substance abuse and addiction, saying that would better prepare her for her ultimate goal: starting a non-profit for homeless and at-risk families.

“If someone’s family need is bigger than their pocketbooks, 我想要有资源来帮忙,古尔丁说。. “I want to create a place for the people who others count out. I know there are a lot of people providing services like this, 但我想参加竞选. 我总是问自己，‘我怎样才能做得更多?’”

服务 to others is a core value of Gourdine’s that extends beyond her degree. She is a long-time volunteer for the Salvation Army and encourages her daughters to volunteer wherever they go. She hopes to instill in them what her mother instilled in her: “If I’m blessed, 我必须祝福别人.”

古尔丁的实习主管 娜塔莎的房子, a transitional home for homeless women and children in York County, her unwavering commitment to helping others shined. Dr. Karen Brown, Miriam’s internship supervisor and executive director of the 娜塔莎的房子 said,

“在我认识米里亚姆的这些年里, 作为她的导师和直接主管, I have seen many examples of her unfailing care, 人才, 奉献, 她的勤奋给我留下了深刻的印象, 职业道德和无私的爱. She has shown me time and again that she is a positive, motivated leader with amazing potential.”

Gourdine excitedly 分享d how she feels incredibly prepared as she advances to the next phase of her career. She talked about how her classes and internships were always relevant in real-world scenarios. 即使是现在, her work as a program specialist for the Newport 网站登录 Department of Human 服务s allows her to implement the lessons she learned in the classroom.

“I could refer back to my notes and apply them to my internships, and now, my job,” she said.

As a non-traditional student, Miriam worked hard to balance her home life, career and schoolwork. 保持全职工作, 作为两个孩子的母亲, 一个妻子, 狗妈妈和学生并不总是那么容易. She credits ODU with allowing her to complete her studies on a flexible schedule.

“I decided to go back to school when my youngest daughter started high school and I was very self-conscious about it. 为什么我在这里? 我想证明什么呢?古尔丁说。. “在ODU，我从未感到格格不入. 我可以把年龄放在次要位置. In every class, I felt welcomed and I never felt my age was a hindrance to me at all.”

Gourdine added that she was able to 分享 her perspective as a mom and someone with more life experience with her younger classmates. So, she was a natural choice to speak at the ODU Campus Connection event in 2022.

“I never felt that I couldn’t do this … I’m about to cry,” she said emotionally. “This is something that I’ve wanted since I was in my early 20s. 我很感激我能来这里. 我喜欢ODU!”

In true Gourdine fashion, she was not content with just being a student at ODU. She served as president for the Beta Gamma chapter of the Tau Alpha Upsilon Human 服务s Honor Society, as a member of the Tau Sigma National Honor Society, was chosen for the Behavioral 健康 Workforce Education and Training internship grant and was selected for the ODU Human 服务s outstanding intern award.

After graduation, Gourdine plans to “take a break and enjoy the moment of what I’ve accomplished. This is something I’ve wanted since I graduated high school in the late ’90s, mind your business!她开玩笑地说. “I’m living in a prayer that I prayed so long ago.”

She is looking forward to spending more time with her daughters, husband and dog before she begins her next journey toward a master’s degree. 当然，她会继续做志愿者.

5月6日, Gourdine’s family will cheer her on virtually and in person as she receives her Bachelor of 艺术 in Human 服务s. Her graduation gown will be adorned with a small turtle, one of her mother’s favorite animals.  

Gourdine also has a message for traditional and non-traditional students alike.

“For anyone who wants to get their degree, do that,” she said. “不要放弃. 不要让恐惧阻止你. If it’s in your heart, give yourself permission to do it. 押注于自己.”