Jordan Woodruff came to GateWay Community College to give college a second try.
He had started out as many high school graduates do; Jordan went from high school right into a university.
“To come back to a junior college and not try to go right to a university seemed like the right idea,” Woodruff said. “Without focus in school I ended up losing a $40,000 scholarship and a lot of respect from my family.”
Woodruff left ASU and the education world for five years before coming to GateWay. One day he had a realization that he was working at a job that was taking him nowhere and he needed to get his life on track.
“I guess it was the kick in the pants from my family and the kick in the pants from myself realize that I am 22 and I need to get going,“ Woodruff said.
He decided he needed to make his parents proud and went back to school. When he started back he realized that he still had a passion for psychology and a desire to be in school.
“GateWay helped me remember what I wanted to do,” he shared.
Woodruff has been studying for his associate degree in Liberal Arts with a focus in Psychology. He plans to continue on with psychology at ASU with plans to further his education on through a Ph.D. He hopes to create a more understanding bridge between families and mental health at a younger age. He wants to create a good relationship between the patients and mental health care.
“GateWay made me possible for me to pursue my degree by being accessible to anyone,” he said. “It is a beautiful campus, I loved being here and loved the faculty. Everyone understood that I was a continuing student that I hadn’t probably picked up a book in four years.”
Woodruff spent three years at GateWay to achieve his associate degree. While going to school he was able to participate in many work-study opportunities on campus.