From Mexico to Maryland: How Nontraditional College Student Found Her Path Back to School

When Diana Godinez enrolled at Carroll Community College at age 32, she wasn’t following a traditional college timeline. Her journey is a powerful nontraditional college student success story, shaped by resilience, motherhood, and a commitment to building a better future for her family.

A mother of three, bilingual interpreter, and full-time student, Diana represents a growing group of nontraditional learners proving that higher education doesn’t have an expiration date.

Early Barriers, Enduring Strength

You can go to college! It doesn’t matter if you’re in your 40s or 60s. It’s never too late to pursue your dreams.

Diana’s journey began far away from Maryland. Born in Uruapan, Michoacán, Mexico, she moved to California at six years old and entered school without knowing English. The transition was overwhelming.

“I had never heard the English language before,” she recalls.

It took four years before she felt fully confident speaking English. During that time, she faced bullying for sounding “different” and struggled to find her voice. Still, she persevered, and what once felt like a disadvantage eventually became one of her greatest assets. Today, she proudly embraces her bilingual identity.

“I previously felt intimidated by my Mexican heritage and was hesitant to speak Spanish or openly express my culture” she says “However, I am now embracing my background and appreciate the significant value of being bilingual.”

Her resilience was tested again after the 2008 financial crisis, when Diana’s family lost their homes and livelihood, having to return to Mexico to rebuild from scratch. She spent five years in Guadalajara working in call centers, where her English skills created opportunities.

“That particular phase in my life was exceptionally challenging,” she says, “but it taught me many things.”

Motherhood as a Turning Point

At 22, Diana became a single mother, and her priorities shifted overnight. She briefly attempted to pursue college in Mexico, but high tuition costs made it impossible to continue. Survival came first.

She committed herself to steady work, taking on demanding schedules and long commutes by bus and train, often leaving home before dawn and returning late at night. Eventually she joined Tata, an India-based international company, where she helped serve global clients like Morgan Stanley.

During this time, she met her future husband, a Maryland native. After they married, the couple chose to move to Westminster, where they laid down roots and grew their family.

But even as life grew more stable, one goal never left her mind: going back to school. “When I had my son, I told myself I needed a plan,” she explains. “I needed to do better for him.”

Motherhood didn’t push her goals aside—it clarified her purpose. Education became not just a personal ambition, but a responsibility to her children and their future.

Answering the Call to Teach

Diana initially pursued accounting and economics for practical reasons but soon realized her true calling was in early childhood education. Her love for caregiving stretches back to adolescence.

“Since the age of nine, I remember going to family parties hoping to see babies, so I could look after them,” she says.

Today, maternal instinct has evolved into a professional mission. Diana is working towards becoming a kindergarten teacher, motivated by a desire to support children during one of their first big transitions and to offer the care and understanding she knows many students need.

“My goal is to ensure children know how important and how loved they are and recognize that they truly do matter.”

Her current work reflects that commitment. She serves as a Spanish interpreter and substitute teacher with Carroll County Public Schools and works as a bilingual orientation assistant for Carroll Community College’s Adult Education Department. In these roles, she helps families navigate school systems and access vital resources—often in their own language—making education more accessible and less intimidating. Her guidance can remind others that college is possible, even later in life.

“I felt very blessed and fortunate to share my story and express to parents that it is possible,” she says. “You can go to college! It doesn’t matter if you’re in your 40s or 60s. It’s never too late to pursue your dreams.”

Her story now serves as both proof and encouragement. She is not only advancing her own education; she is widening the path for other nontraditional college students to do likewise.

A Community of Support

Carroll Community College provided a realistic and sustainable path to returning to school.

“It was made very easy and accessible for me,” Diana says. Flexible scheduling and online course options allowed her to balance parenting, work, and academics. “I feel like Carroll supports nontraditional college students very much.”

Financial aid also played a critical role. Despite initially assuming her household income might disqualify her, she applied for it anyway. “I told my husband, what’s the worst that could happen?” She ultimately received a full-ride scholarship.

Beyond this financial assistance, she found wraparound support through tutoring services and the campus Food Locker, where she could access free essentials like diapers. “The help is overall. It’s not just guidance for selecting classes. It’s your life all around.”

She also credits supportive faculty like Early Childhood Education program director Carole Williamson with reinforcing her decision to pursue teaching as a rewarding career.

Looking Ahead

Diana has officially completed her Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree in Early Childhood Education at Carroll and will be walking the Commencement stage in May 2026. She plans on continuing her education after her youngest daughter reaches full-time school age. Her long-term future remains firmly rooted in the classroom, both as student and as teacher.

Diana’s message to other nontraditional college students: Don’t let fear determine your future. Her journey stands as a powerful reminder that nontraditional students can succeed in college, no matter when they begin.

“Anything is possible if you work hard,” she declares. “We are the ones who impose limits due to our fears or doubts. It is important to not let those thoughts deter your from pursuing your goals. You have a distinct purpose, and your growth and contributions are essential. I encourage everyone to strive toward becoming the person you were meant to be.”