Jennifer DiSanto: Fresh Start Means Bright Future

Jennifer DiSanto is a marshal and valedictorian for University College, graduating with her associate's degrees in pre-business administration and early childhood education.

Because of her high academic achievement (she earned straight A's), it's hard to believe this 29-year-old mother of two once feared she was too old to pursue her dream of a higher education.

"I started at Clermont College after I graduated from Bethel High School about 10 years ago and had my daughter Allison between the first and second year. Then we moved. I always wanted to go back and get a degree in education and my dad said, 'Just do it.'"

DiSanto says she worried she wouldn't be "smart enough" to make it. Now, she can be proud of all she has accomplished. She adds the smaller classes at University College helped make her feel comfortable on the large college campus.

Furthermore, she set an academic example for her children. No one could complain about homework when Mommy was keeping up with her own. "When I told my son I was valedictorian, he said, 'Does that mean you did good on your homework, Mommy?'

"I think my daughter also tried much harder to get straight-A's. She would ask to see my report card."

DiSanto will be back at UC this fall, finishing her bachelor's degree in early childhood education through the College of Education. In addition to going to school and raising 10-year-old Allison and six-year-old Cody, DiSanto works at 4C for Children, a childcare resource and referral agency in Greater Cincinnati.

"I used to tell people, 'I really want to be a teacher, but it's a five-year program and I'll be 32 when I graduate.' Then, someone once told me, 'Aren't you going to be 32 in five years anyway? Why not be 32 and be doing what you love to do?' That's really what made me come back."

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