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Bobbi Shulman

Bill Hard, Foundation board member

¡°I am a testament to the benefits of a Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ education¡­¡±

- Bobbi Schulman, Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ Foundation Donor

Growing up low-income, Jewish, and a woman in the south in the 1960s, I didn¡¯t have a lot of options. I was a serious student and my grades reflected that. I had drive and ambition, but lacked money and, importantly, guidance.

Thankfully, some dear relatives saw my potential and paid for me to attend secretarial school. With my certificate in hand, I set off for Washington, D.C. at age 19, where I secured a government job. After moving to Montgomery County and having saved the $100 needed, I enrolled at Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ. After working all day, I took the bus to the Takoma Park/Silver Spring Campus. For two glorious nights a week, I sat in a college classroom and absorbed everything I could.

When I married my husband, Larry, he was a full-time law student, who worked part time, while I was a full-time secretary, who went to school part time. After a few years, I was able to attend college full-time at the University of Maryland, College Park.

After one semester, I realized I was pregnant. In 1971, a 25-year-old, pregnant college student was something of an oddity. Determined to stay in school, I tried to hide my pregnancy by wearing a trench coat to class.

My first child was born that summer. Two more would follow. As the years passed, I took classes when I could. Eighteen years after starting at Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ, I graduated with a bachelor¡¯s degree in communications from American University. I would eventually go on to receive my master¡¯s degree.

My story is similar to that of many Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ students. Like me, they juggle working while going to college, or they juggle parenting while going to college. Some do all three.

As a past College trustee and a current Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ Foundation director, I am privileged to meet students whose circumstances remind me so much of my own. They are focused, determined, hungry to learn, and in need of support.

I am a testament to the benefits of a Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ education, which is Why I Give. I hope you will join me.

Bobbi Schulman

Make a Lasting Difference

Join others like Bobbi who support Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ as donors by contacting Bernadette Maldonado at bernadette.maldonado@montgomerycollege.edu or 240-687-0654.


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