The first time Lauren Chiulli went to college she left after she got the bill, realizing she needed to take a break to save money. The second time she gave college a go, she received her associate’s degree in early childhood education from Northern Essex Community college.
After earning her associate’s degree did not satisfy her, the third time she went to college, Lauren got it right and applied to Salem State University to finish her education. After applying to Salem State in the summer of 2015, and like many of us who get into their dream college, when she opened her acceptance letter she cried tears of joy.
“When I was a junior in high school I went to look at the Salem State with my mom and it struck me. I was just so excited,” the 27-year-old said.
But tears of course always come with a dash of salt; Lauren entered Salem State with academic woes.
“I came into Salem State University with a 1.4 GPA and was on academic probation,” Lauren said.
Despite this, Lauren improved her GPA gradually while enrolled in three classes a semester and working 30 hours a week as a preschool teacher at the Goddard School in her home town of Saugus.
“I would teach the children self-help skills like helping them put on their jackets and putting them away after outside time, getting their lunch boxes for lunch time, and helping them recognize their names and the letters in it.”
While on her journey to a better academic standing, time management became a juggling act for Lauren and money was always on the forefront of her mind.
“I knew as a young adult I had to make money. I had to support myself, but also had homework and exams to study for.”
In addition to being stretched thin by teaching and her classes, when Lauren was in sixth grade she was told she had a learning disability.
“I never knew what it was; they told me it was a reading comprehension disability.”
Lauren has not let this keep her from achieving her academic objectives. “When I went to high school I felt like I didn’t have a learning disability, so my senior year I wanted to be in a regular English class, and my mentor helped me through it.”
She brought that same determination to Salem State.
“I have dreams and I have goals and I want to do it: Make Dean’s list three times, take three classes, work 30 hours a week. I would take my homework with me and work on it during my lunch breaks.”
In her junior year at Salem State, Lauren faced yet another obstacle when she lost her grandmother just a week before her birthday. She had wanted her grandmother to be at her graduation, but in lieu of her grandmother’s presence Lauren will be wearing a gold guardian angel pin on her gown in her memory.
Despite her loss, Lauren is graduating with a 3.0 GPA from Salem State on May 18. She has many Salem State faculty and staff members to thank for her success, including Professors Jamie Wilson and Cecilia Testa and staff members Bryan Boppert and Megan Penyack.
“I strongly encourage existing students and students coming in to build relationships with professors; they want you to succeed,” said Lauren. “Build relationships. Attend office hours. If you don’t understand something, go to them and tell them, ask them to pin point how you can improve.”
Lauren is also thankful for her family, friends, and boyfriend.
“I would also like to express a heartfelt thank you to my parents, my family, my friends and my boyfriend Mathue for their guidance and support when there were times I wanted to give up,” Lauren said. “Without their love and support, none of this would have become possible. I thank them all from the bottom of my heart and for always believing in me. For that I am extremely grateful.”