Olympia Scott Shares Her Transforming Story
JACKSONVILLE – Olympia Scott of Jacksonville is a 36 year old single mom who will achieve her dream of earning a college degree on May 4. Scott was inspired by her third grade teacher to pursue a career in education, but life got in the way. In 1998 she got her foot in the door with a job at a childcare facility. She loved working with children and began taking classes at a local community college to earn her associate’s degree. It took several years, but she finally earned her AAS in Early Childhood Education in 2009.
Working as a teacher assistant with the Onslow County School System, Scott was once again inspired to push her education further. In October of 2010 she enrolled in the Early Childhood Education program at University of Mount Olive at Jacksonville to pursue her bachelor’s degree. “That was one of the best decisions that I have made in my life,” she said. “University of Mount Olive gave me the opportunity to attend class one-night-a-week and still be a parent. The flexibility of the program was fabulous. The ladies in my cohort were supportive, helpful, and inspiring. The nine of us became a family and I will miss each and every one of them. University of Mount Olive has helped accomplish my dream and I am truly grateful for that.”
Following graduation Scott plans to apply for a NC Pre-K Teaching position in Onslow County. She would also one day like to own her own business in the field of early childhood intervention.
“Mount Olive has given me the opportunity to experience college in a nontraditional way and still come out on top. It has been a plethora of hard work, but it was all worth it. I can see the light and it is shining bright. University of Mount Olive has given me the opportunity to graduate and move my career forward. I would like to thank everyone who supported me during this wonderful journey, but a special thank you goes out to my son, Deandre Scott; Casey Nelson; Edie Chaney; Jillian Ardley and Mrs. Joyce Blocker. I could not have done it without their support.”
University of Mount Olive will graduate approximately 360 students at its 59th spring commencement on Saturday, May 4th. Graduation exercises are scheduled for 2:00 p.m. in the George and Annie Dail Kornegay Arena.
University of Mount Olive is a private institution rooted in the liberal arts tradition with defining Christian values. The College, sponsored by the Convention of Original Free Will Baptists, has locations in Mount Olive, New Bern, Wilmington, Goldsboro, Research Triangle Park, Washington and Jacksonville. For more information, visit www.moc.edu.