Throughout her time at Gateway Technical College, the Step UP program gave graduate Castrena Woods the helping hand she needed to get her IT - Computer Support Specialist associate degree.

"Becoming a member of the Step UP program gave me motivation and support that kept my mind focused on continuing and completing my educational journey," says Castrena. “The program also helped me update my resume, references and cover letter. And it provided me with the resources to prepare me for job interviews too.

"Step UP made me step up. It's a community here, and those staff members understand you, relate to you, and they made me feel it was okay to be in college as a single mother. They kept me motivated and focused. They make you feel like you can accomplish everything you set out to accomplish at Gateway. It's that program and the community here that got me to graduation."

As part of the Step UP program, Castrena took part in Gateway's Single Parent Conversation Group, which brings together students who are single parents and provides an environment in which students can get support, find social activities and get resources.

"I'm a single mother. Step UP not only directs you to single parent resources, but the Single Parent Conversation Group gives students a place to confide in one another and deal with stress in a healthy way," says Castrena.

"That conversation group is a sacred space where we can talk about anything and not be judged. It's a confidential, trusted group that is such a great tool for single mothers and single fathers to relate to one another. I can’t stress enough that Gateway’s Step UP Program is the key to success for so many students, including me. They pushed me to where I am today. And I’m thankful."

Castrena originally got her High School Equivalency Diploma at Gateway and then moved on to earn her college degree.

"That took me a year to complete my HSED, and I immediately started college afterwards. I've been here at Gateway ever since."