Adult Student Finds Success at C.W. Post

May 5, 2003 - These days, it’s not unusual to hear of a person working two jobs. Lorna Mills of Uniondale does just that - and attends college at the C.W. Post Campus of Long Island University in Brookville. She works a full-time job at night at North Shore University Hospital in Forest Hills and a part-time weekend job at Jamaica Hospital as a laboratory technologist. On May 11, 2003 Mills will receive a bachelor of science degree in biomedical science with honors when the campus celebrates its 45th Commencement exercises.

"There were many nights when I was going on just two hours sleep," she said. "But I know that there are many students who do that too."

Mills said she started the program eight years ago in order to obtain certification as a Medical Laboratory Technologist. She attended classes during the day and now carries a 3.79 grade point average. Mills said she liked going to school during the daytime. "It kept me young," she says with a smile.

"She's a sincere, bright woman with an abundance of energy," said Angela Meisse, program director of C.W. Post’s Clinical Laboratory Science Program. "She passed her sense of enthusiasm and perseverance on to the other more traditional students and served as an inspiration for them."

Mills enjoyed her time at C.W. Post and the relationships she had with the other students in the program. She said she wasn’t concerned about fitting it with the other students, but with the workload. "I questioned myself: Will I be able to do this work?," Mills said. "Thankfully, by the grace of God, I did it."

The experience has also helped her to better understand her children, one of whom recently graduated from college and the other who will be starting at C.W. Post in the fall. "I know what they are experiencing in their college lives and I can empathize with them," she said. "I can set an example for them, just like I hope I am setting an example for the other students in the program."

"It's been an honor to mentor her throughout the years," said Meisse. "Lorna’s professional qualities and intellect were an asset to our program. I’m going to miss her and her constant smile."

Mills will be one of more than 1,600 students who will don their caps and gowns on Mother's Day, Sunday, May 11, 2003 for 45th annual commencement exercises of the C.W. Post Campus of Long Island University. The campus has awarded more than 85,000 degrees in its 49-year history, through a broad range of undergraduate and graduate programs. For additional information, call the Office of Public Relations at (516) 299-2333.