From West Africa to America

Marina Gaye’s journey from when she first started at Northampton Community College (NCC) to the moment she crossed the stage at 2024 Winter Commencement is a testament to her resilience and determination. This NCC alum was born on the Ivory Coast of West Africa and moved to the United States with her family at the age of two, where they had high hopes for her education and future success. 

Motivated by her status as a first-generation college student, and with a deep desire to make her family proud, Gaye excelled at every opportunity presented to her. “I credit my achievements to the unwavering support and guidance my mother and grandmother provided me. They introduced me to the values of hard work and perseverance at a young age,” said Gaye. 

The path to graduation was still full of challenges. Gaye experienced moments of doubt and frustration, which grew worse during the pandemic as classes changed formats. She would find herself feeling isolated due to the lack of connection with others who could relate to her situation. As she was pursuing her degree, she was also working two jobs, including working in a group home with individuals with intellectual disabilities. She explained, “I would have to try to do schoolwork while I had downtime at work.” She eventually found herself falling behind in her classes. 

As the pandemic continued, Gaye took time for deep self-reflection and made the decision to pause and reevaluate her academic goals for a semester. Remembering why she started and what it meant to her, Gaye offered simple yet powerful advice to anyone thinking the same thing, "keep pushing and never give up."  

Sticking with her own advice, Gaye returned to NCC and ultimately finished with her degree in criminal justice this past winter. She now has her sights set on fulfilling her lifelong dream of becoming a police officer.