For Jon N., stability was often out of reach.

As Jon grew up in New Haven, Connecticut, his family experienced misfortune and setbacks that defined his childhood. But they also helped inspire his future.

“My family faced a lot of challenges,” he says, especially in the lead-up to his parents’ divorce. “Financially, socially — everything.”

After an accident left Jon’s father struggling with motivation, substance use, and mental health challenges, his home life became increasingly difficult. The turning point came just before Jon’s senior year of high school, when his mother made a decision that changed everything.

“She made this difficult but necessary choice to move us away from my dad,” he says. In the middle of the night, she left with Jon and his brother in tow. “She was very resilient.”

Still, life in a single-parent household was stressful. There were times without electricity or gas. Grocery shopping meant clipping coupons and budgeting every dollar.

“The strength that my mom showed during those times — she always found a way to keep us going,” Jon says.

“Those early experiences really shaped how I see the world and what I value,” he says. “They gave me a deep understanding of how poverty impacts every aspect of life.”

Jon’s childhood left a lasting imprint. Today, that insight informs everything he does.

Jon’s journey into social work didn’t start in a classroom. It began at home.

“Growing up in a low-income household, you see firsthand how hard it is to navigate life without the right resources,” he says. His mother worked multiple jobs, money was short, and there seemed to be no roadmap to find help. “She’s just trying to support the family.”

In hindsight, Jon says he knows there were resources they could have tapped and people they could have turned to for help, but they were unaware of them at the time.

“That lack of knowledge really stayed with me and became a driving force behind my decision to pursue a career in social services where I could help others try and avoid that same struggle,” he says.

Over the years, Jon built a career in the field, working in schools and homes as a registered behavior technician and ABA therapist through Connecticut Behavioral Health. He began to realize that with the right degree, he could support individuals and families on a broader level.

“I enjoyed the work,” he says, “but I wanted to expand my impact.”

While contemplating starting a role with a new company, his current employer offered to support him in returning to school to earn his Master of Social Work (MSW).

“That was a defining moment for me,” he says.

Soon after, he applied to Regis College. “Pursuing my master’s would not only help me grow professionally, but also allow me to contribute more effectively to the work I’m really passionate about.”

He also remembers the quiet shift that took place in his personal life around that time.

“You find yourself at home with less people around, thinking, ‘What’s my plan? How am I progressing? How am I becoming the best version of myself?’,” he says.

In high school, Jon worked full time to support his family, leaving him with little time to develop his social life. In college, he was able to spend less time working and more time with friends.

“You have all this free time and ability to interact socially and become your own person,” he says. “I think the academics became less of a priority.”

With uncertainty about his true academic potential, Jon had doubts going into the program at Regis.

“I didn’t perform the best academically during my undergraduate years,” he says, recalling the many factors at play.

But at Regis, Jon succeeded beyond his expectations. He found himself speaking up in class more than he expected and was surprised that he enjoyed taking on leadership roles.

“When there’s a time to do something or lead a group, that’s a role that I’m comfortable in,” he says.

A decade in social services gave him the foundation. The MSW program gave him the language, structure, and confidence to build on it.

He quickly began applying the skills he was learning — such as empathy, active listening, assessments, evaluations, and policy analysis — into his work.

“I was naturally incorporating some of those concepts in my coursework into my decision-making process,” he says. Discovering that his newfound knowledge was directly applicable to the work he was doing every day affirmed his program choice.

Jon’s schedule at the start of the program was intense: Up at 5:45 a.m., working in schools, then seeing clients in-home until 6:30 or 7:00 p.m. — and only then starting coursework.

“It was a really challenging first nine months,” he says, adding that it helped him learn a lot about himself. “I really proved to myself that I can handle the workload. I can manage my time and I can succeed.”

Jon also took the initiative to build community. He created a Slack channel for his MSW cohort, giving classmates a way to connect, collaborate, and support each other. He valued the interaction, and he credits it with helping him through the program.

“It’s asynchronous, but you’re not on this journey alone,” he says.

Today, Jon feels proud of how far he’s come.

“I’ve gained a sense of clarity about my goals — academically and professionally,” he says. Each completed assignment and class discussion has built his confidence. “It’s been a journey. But I think I’m just getting better as it goes.”

His motivation is rooted in purpose. “I didn’t want other families to feel isolated the way we did,” he says.

But as he continued his education, a more personal purpose emerged: Confidence.

“On a personal level, earning my degree was also about proving to myself that I could do it,” he adds. “I just wanted to know that I was capable of succeeding in higher education. I think taking this step has been a lot about personal growth.”

But Jon has never lost sight of why he’s here.

“I want to make a lasting impact in my community,” he says.

Jon knows how intimidating it can be to return to school, especially while working full time. His advice?

“Set a smart goal for yourself,” he says. “Something that’s realistic, that you can do and that you can achieve — and then try and stick to those goals each week. And above all, be kind to yourself.”

He also credits one of his first Regis professors with reinforcing an important mindset. He remembers her saying, “Find some room for grace. Give yourself a little time where you can relax and find peace and do something good for yourself.”

Jon says he took that advice seriously, and it helped him reach his goals.

“I think we should be grateful that we’re in a program that really puts the students in the forefront,” he says. “Our education is important, but we as people are more important to them. I really feel that.”

If you want to learn more about Regis College and our offerings, check out our online master’s degrees, doctorate degrees, and certificate programs.