Student leader says Gateway helped her reach goal of college degree

Nicole Oberlin says she always wanted to go to college, but she just felt there were too many hurdles keeping her from doing so. Would the opportunities for her to advance be there? How about finances? Would it be accessible when she had the time between parenting and work?

A postcard mailer, encouragement from her children and a quick check of the Gateway Technical College website helped her to realize that her dream of college was a reality.

Two years later, Nicole says Gateway removed all those barriers and provided her with the opportunities – financial and otherwise – to help her reach her goal of a college degree.

“I had been out of school for so long and I had no idea what I was getting myself into. Gateway walks with you every step of the way,” says Nicole. “For me, I had no idea how to navigate all of this, but I didn’t feel alone at all in the process.

“I truly believe this: The more I learn about Gateway, the more my fondness grows for the college. They are truly meeting people where they are at and helping them to carry the load and realize their educational goals.”

Nicole has flourished at the college and was even selected as the 2022-23 District Ambassador. In that role, she represented the entire student body to the college, area communities and served on the Gateway Board of Trustees as the student member. Her message for that year has remained that Gateway provides an affordable, quality education for students, no matter where they find themselves in their life or career.

“I had initially applied to UW-Milwaukee and UW-Parkside when I graduated from high school, but at the time, I just could not financially make it work,” says Nicole. “I needed to find something more affordable.

“Then, I saw that you could take your first two years at Gateway and earn a Liberal Arts degree and transfer to a four-year college and enter as a junior. You could take as many classes as you wanted within your time constraints and make it work.

“That was perfect. I felt like Gateway offered me a financially viable option, and I could transfer those credits.”

She says she chose Liberal Arts not only for the affordability factor, but that she could also tailor her Gateway classes to help her more efficiently enter her four-year degree area of study too.

“I am a big cheerleader of the program. If you plan at all to get a four-year degree, it just makes so much sense to come to Gateway for this Liberal Arts program,” says Nicole. “Gateway offers so many course options; and when you finish, it won’t just be that you’ve earned credits. You will have earned a degree.

“That’s something you can take with you and build on. If you are looking to get into your career before you graduate, there are some employers that require you to have a degree, and this will help you with that too.” 

Nicole was one of the first students to graduate with a Liberal Arts degree.

Nicole says the college has changed her life personally and professionally.

“I encourage my children and push them to be all they can be. I am living out that message to them right now. I didn’t have much growing up and want my children to have something better. Gateway has allowed me to have that.”