When Gina moved back to Boston in 2019, her life was in motion on several tracks at once. She had just earned two associate degrees in California, became a single mother, and was caring for her newborn son, all while figuring out how to restart her own education after a seven-year pause. Her son ultimately gave Gina the motivation she needed to return to school to continue her education. “I wanted to give my son a better life, and a mother to look up to in every aspect, including education and pursuing his dreams,” she says.
Between a full-time job and round-the-clock caregiving, Gina hunted relentlessly for ways to offset tuition. “While I was in my undergrad program, I must have applied to over 100 different scholarships, grants, and programs,” she says. One of those applications landed on the desk of the Alray Scholars Program—just as a costly probate-court custody battle threatened to derail her plans. However, the financial support from Alray made it possible for her to stay in school. “With help from Alray and a few other scholarships, I was able to graduate,” Gina says.
Alray’s impact went beyond dollars. Gina majored in K–2 Education, maintained an honors GPA, and graduated magna cum laude, all while feeling part of a caring community. “It felt good knowing I had a village to fall back on,” she says. Steady check-ins with her mentor and Alray staff reminded Gina that her hard work mattered. “Once I received my degree it felt fruitful that all my heart work paid off, and the long nights doing my assignments felt worth it, even if in those moments, it didn’t feel like it.”
True to form, Gina isn’t slowing down. She has already stepped into a behavioral therapist role while pursuing a master’s in Human Development. Next stop: passing the BACB exam to become a board-certified behavior analyst. “I hope to equip children with behavioral needs and on the spectrum with the tools and advocacy they need to help acclimate them to the world we live in today,” she says. “That’s the impact I want to have.”
Looking back, Gina considers the Alray Scholars Program “a key factor” in reaching her undergraduate milestone. “I will forever be grateful for the financial and personal help that they provided to me in such a hard time in my life,” she says.
In just four short years, her son has already watched his mother juggle work, classes, and succeed. “My biggest motivation is showing him that he can accomplish anything he puts his mind to,” Gina adds. “Not only preaching to him about how important education is, but practicing and leading by example.”
Gina’s story was captured and written by Julianne Stein.
“With help from Alray and a few other scholarships, I was able to graduate.”