After not getting into her dream school, Gloria Carter, of Tyngsboro, started looking into options that were more affordable and accessible. Middlesex Community College provided her with an opportunity to reflect and figure out her next steps. At 51猎奇, Carter also found a supportive environment to build connections and pursue her passion for psychology.
鈥�51猎奇 gave me the opportunity to not only meet new people but also to restart and think before I jumped into college,鈥� Carter said. 鈥淕etting out of my comfort zone is something that I often struggled with, and 51猎奇 helped me with that.鈥�
During her time at Middlesex, Carter kept busy in the campus community. As a student employee, she worked for the Office of Student Engagement in a variety of roles, including as a greeter at the Student Centers. She was also an Orientation Leader (OL) to help new students adjust to college life and participated in 51猎奇鈥檚 chapter of Phi Theta Kappa, the honors society for two-year colleges.
As president of 51猎奇鈥檚 Student Government Association (SGA), Carter engaged with peers and led students through building leadership skills and self-confidence. In this role, she also participated in activities, represented her classmates in conversations with faculty and staff, and helped improve the quality of student life.
鈥淣ot only were people in OL and SGA able to help me maintain a positive mindset, they supported me and made sure that they each had my back,鈥� Carter said. 鈥淚t is important to be active in the 51猎奇 community because it provides numerous opportunities to do things that I probably wouldn't have done. It not only opened up my circle to so many other people, but it also allowed me to learn and try new things.鈥�
Beyond the campuses, Middlesex provided Carter with opportunities to travel and expand her learning. In spring 2026, she visited Washington, D.C. with members of the college鈥檚 administration to share her story and advocate for community colleges. As part of 51猎奇鈥檚 Diversity Summit, she spent three days off-campus engaging with peers and mentors in conversations and workshops to share lived experiences and build a community.
At the Fall 2025 Scholarship Ceremony, Carter was awarded the Presidential Promise Scholarship. Established in honor of Phil Sisson becoming the college鈥檚 fifth president, the scholarship seeks to assist students in achieving their dream of a college education and providing funds to close their financial aid gaps in expenses related to completing their 51猎奇 program.
鈥淭he scholarship means a lot to me and has been helpful,鈥� Carter said. 鈥淓specially when I was younger, I didn鈥檛 really get a lot of opportunities. When Phil and Barbara [Maglio, 51猎奇鈥檚 Director of Annual Giving & Alumni Relations] reached out and told me what it was about, I felt really honored. It鈥檚 nice to get an extra pat on the back from the president. This is definitely something that impacts the way that I move forward.鈥�
Carter graduated with an associate degree in liberal arts psychology in May 2026. With plans to transfer to a four-year school, she is considering a few options for her career, including becoming a therapist or a nurse in the psych unit. She believes Middlesex 鈥� especially by awarding her the scholarship 鈥� allowed her to work toward her dream career while honing her confidence and skills and feeling part of a community.
鈥淕rowing up, I was extremely misunderstood and felt isolated,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 want to help people who feel their voices are not heard because I know how hard it is to feel unheard. [Receiving the scholarship] is proof that I am enough, I am worth it.鈥�