Journey To Commencement: Gina M. Slocum
Journey To Commencement: Gina M. Slocum
Peirce College’s 160th Commencement is right around the corner! We are thrilled to highlight some of our upcoming graduates and share their stories, in their own words, with our Journey to Commencement series.
Today’s feature is Gina M. Slocum, a graduate of the Master of Science in Healthcare Administrationprogram.
“The year was 2015, I faced a significant career setback when I was laid off, from my role as an office manager at a nonprofit organization. In that role, I not only managed the office but also coordinated trainings, supported directors and managers in program development, and liaised with member organizations, among other duties. Although it was a difficult time, I was confident in the skills I had developed and believed they would make me competitive in the job market. However, I was surprised to find that I was ineligible for many positions I thought I was qualified for because I lacked a degree. I kept pressing forward and never gave up!
After my layoff, I found myself a divorced single mother with one son about to enter college and another in grade school. To make ends meet, I worked two part-time jobs while on unemployment benefits. Despite sending out numerous job applications and receiving no responses, I persevered. Just as my unemployment benefits were about to expire, I received a job offer from a previous employer. Although the position paid $20,000 less than my previous job, I accepted it, seeing it as a stepping stone to future opportunities. I kept pressing forward and never gave up!
Despite receiving three promotions over the years, I still hadn’t reached the salary I felt my experience warranted. Two years after my layoff, 2017, my director acknowledged my value and work ethic but explained that advancing further would require a degree. Motivated by his advice, I contacted several colleges, and Peirce College was the first to respond. I had graduated high school in 1984 and had never planned to return to school, but I faced the challenge head-on. Balancing two jobs and raising two sons, I completed my Associate’s degree in Health Information Technology in 2020, amid the pandemic, and received a raise. Encouraged by my director, who sadly passed away shortly after, I continued my education and earned my Bachelor’s degree in Healthcare Administration in 2022. I kept pressing forward and never gave up!
In 2023, a recruiter contacted me through LinkedIn—a platform I had updated as part of an assignment from Peirce, which I initially thought was pointless. This contact led to a job offer that I accepted, leaving my previous employer and advancing my career significantly. I resolved never to be unmarketable again and am now on track to obtain my Master’s in Healthcare Administration in June 2025. I kept pressing forward and never gave up!
I am immensely grateful to my mother, my father, my sister, and my sons for their unwavering support. I also owe a great deal to Peirce College, my advisors, and professors for their availability and support, especially Dr. DeVida Rembert, aka, Dr. De, whose mentorship has been crucial in these final stages of my academic journey.
The morale of the story is, never burn bridges, keep pressing forward and NEVER GIVE UP!”
Gina M. Slocum
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