Kudos to Joy Thurman, a Citrus College Child Development major, who is embracing college life and motherhood with determination and strength.

Joy's pursuit of higher education began in 2019 when she first enrolled at Citrus College. Having spent 17 years in the foster care system, she conceded that she lacked confidence and support. As a result, Joy chose to step away from her studies. However, that experience became a valuable part of her personal and academic growth.

Four years later, Joy was back on campus with new motivation. After experiencing a difficult relationship and becoming a mother, she knew she needed to create a better future for her son. "I realized that things were only going to get worse for him," she said. "That was the light I needed to come back to Citrus College and pursue my education again."

Of course, being both a single mom and a student comes with challenges. For Joy, this means balancing housework, classwork and parenting. For example, as the sole caregiver for her son, Joy has to miss class whenever her son gets sick. "It's just me and him," she said. "Sometimes it feels like I have no support or help overcoming the obstacles that arise, but I live to make a great future for him. He is my motivation."

Despite the challenges, Joy has found moments of pride at Citrus College. Her favorite experiences include being named Student of the Month in October 2024, serving as a student ambassador for the basic needs program and leading as the president of the student club, Rising Stars. She also enjoys speaking at events for the NextUp program, which has been especially meaningful to her. "NextUp and CalWORKs have truly helped me," she said. "They understand the challenges every parent faces and are always willing to work with us, providing the support we need to navigate college."

Projected to graduate at the end of the spring 2026 semester, Joy plans on transferring to a four-year university and hopes to one day earn a master's degree in child development. "My professional goal is to become a preschool teacher or a principal of an elementary school," she said.

As she settles into her final year at Citrus College, Joy has words of encouragement for other student-parents. "You are doing amazing and you are the future for your children," she said. "Your commitment and drive to be here are more than enough for you and your babies."

Thank you for making Citrus College part of your story, Joy! We are proud of your accomplishments and look forward to seeing what your future holds.