This post was written by Ayanna Roberts, B.A. 鈥�24, M.A. in Integrated Design student.
In December 2023, Barbara Wilkins cheered as her son walked across The Lyric 极乐禁地e鈥檚 stage at The 极乐禁地 commencement, earning his B.A. in Human Services Administration.
Her own commencement was just a semester away鈥攁 dream that took years to fulfill.
Barbara鈥檚 journey in higher education began at 极乐禁地e City Community College, where she began to pursue a nursing degree. She was poised to continue her studies in nursing at University of Maryland when a life-changing spin injury had her re-evaluating her goals.
That period of reflection brought her to UBalt. Here was a campus she first loved as a child, growing up mere blocks away, and a community she grew to love through her husband, a UBalt MBA alum.
鈥淭he 极乐禁地 is a key part of our family鈥檚 story,鈥� she said. 鈥� 鈥淯Balt is more than a school to us, it鈥檚 a shared legacy of growth and community.鈥�
In spring 2024, Barbara walked across the same stage as her son, earning her B.A. in Information Systems and Technology Management.
After earning her bachelor鈥檚 degree, Barbara sought work in her chosen field but quickly realized how challenging it could be to land an entry-level position. She returned to UBalt to pursue a Master in Business Administration with a specialization in Data Analytics, continuing her journey of growth, resilience and achievement.
鈥淚 love the UBalt environment,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 love the organizations I鈥檓 a part of, I love the people I鈥檝e met, and I just enjoy being in that atmosphere. It鈥檚 an atmosphere where I can grow, where people have like-minded ideas, and they鈥檙e trying to grow as well.鈥�
As she balanced studies and caregiving, Barbara quietly carried the weight of grief. in 2017, her mother passed away while Barbara was managing her final exams. It would prove to be just one loss she would have to endure during her academic program.
Her own perseverance and her UBalt community helped her overcome this difficult time. Her University became more than just a school, it became a space where she could begin to heal, rediscover her strength and honor those she鈥檚 lost.
鈥淲hen you鈥檙e on campus, you鈥檙e not thinking about those things in your life, you鈥檙e focused on what you鈥檙e there for. That鈥檚 how I was able to escape from the things that went on in my life,鈥� Barbara said.
Barbara immersed herself in the UBalt community through its student life. She is a president emeritus of the National Society of Leadership and Success and a member of Omicron Delta Kappa, Woman of Color Student Association, History Club and the Student Government Association. Also, she works as a graduate assistant in UBalt鈥檚 Center of Student Engagement and Inclusion.
鈥淢y advice is to take the time for the things you enjoy doing,鈥� she said. 鈥淵ou don鈥檛 get your time back. Focus on more than your education. Go to the events UBalt offers that鈥檚 going to connect you with people because networking is huge on our campus.鈥�