Laurel Ridge Community College has turned Gwen Layman’s life around, and now she is trying to get others to join her in pursuing their futures through education.
Layman dropped out of Sherando High School in the 11th grade – during the height of the pandemic as she struggled to adjust to remote learning.
“Being in the classroom physically I realized was really necessary for me,” she said.
In the interim, Layman began working full time for a local business doing residential and commercial cleaning.
“My friend’s mom created the business for us,” she said. “It’s hard, but I still work full time now.”
In 2024, Layman decided to go back to school, and earned her GED with the help of Laurel Ridge’s Adult Education program.
“I realized that I didn’t want to clean forever,” she said. “It’s painful. It’s mentally and physically draining.”
A first-generation college student, Layman grew up watching the toll physical labor took on her father, who also dropped out of high school. She recalled helping him up the stairs following a hard day’s work.
“I’ve seen the life it can lead to,” said Layman.
Her Adult Education instructor, Christina Hoffman encouraged her to enroll in Laurel Ridge’s credit classes after earning her GED and told her about the GED Scholarship that might be available to help her.
“I give her a lot of credit for why I’m here,” said Layman. “She led me onto the right path.”
She would like to become an architect.
“I know I’m highly arts-based, and I like some of the STEM aspect,” said Layman.
Layman received Pell grants and the GED Scholarship, which helped cover her credit classes when she enrolled last fall. She said it has been helpful in allowing her to cut down a few hours at work and relieved her anxiety around costs. Layman is planning to earn her degree in general studies next spring and then transfer to a four-year university to pursue her degree in architecture.
“Hopefully, with the passport degree, I can go to the University of Virginia or somewhere else that has a really good architecture program to continue my education,” she said.
Layman has particularly enjoyed her history and art classes at Laurel Ridge.
“I really enjoyed History Professor Curtis Morgan’s class and I’ve gotten to read a couple of really interesting books with that,” she said. “And, I really, really love Art Professor Monica James. She’s very inspiring and is going to help me create a portfolio.”
Layman is also a fan of the TRiO program, which provides additional support and services to students who are low income, or have a documented disability, or are a first-generation college student.
“It’s done a ton for me,” she said. “I love the tutoring that they offer. There’s always someone available for tutoring. It’s been really helpful for me, especially in math. My little sister is coming into her first year this year and I’m trying to get her into TRiO, too.”
Attending Laurel Ridge has helped Layman to mature, she said.
“It’s made me take accountability,” she said. “It keeps me in a routine, which I need. I like being in school again. I really like academia. You’re never going to stop learning. That’s how you grow – you make mistakes and you learn.”
Now, Layman, who hopes to one day get a master’s degree and own her own art gallery, finds herself trying to get her friends to also enroll at the college.
“I want to see everybody else grow, too,” she said. “I want to see my friends go further and have more passions, ambitions and dreams.”
Laurel Ridge Community College was known as Lord Fairfax Community College until June 2022. For consistency purposes, the college will be referenced as Laurel Ridge going forward.