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As a single mother, Jessica Yonice Vazquez '24G said it was important for her to provide a better future for her daughter. To help her achieve that goal, Vazquez earned an online Master of Science (MS) in Human Resource Management at Õ¬ÄÐƵµÀ (SNHU).

Though she lives in Massachusetts, Vazquez said SNHU feels like home. Having earned her undergraduate degree through the university, she said that experience led her to pursue a master's.

“I had all this great support over the phone through my admissions advisor and my academic advisors, my professors," she said.

So many SNHU staff members were helpful, Vazquez said, but she gave a particular shoutout to her academic advisor, who she described as the most supportive person she encountered.

“He was just so amazing,” she said. “He would call me, you know, at least a couple times in a month, just to make sure I was on track... And (he) provided me with a lot of venting sessions, as well.”

Though earning her degree was hard work, Vazquez said her achievement was worth celebrating — and that she would do it all over again, if she could.

At present, Vazquez works in an admissions office at a community college. But she said she has started the process of looking for a role in a human resources department, where she hopes to apply her newly acquired skills. She noted that the information she learned in her program has been beneficial in her current position as well.  Vazquez said SNHU not only gave her the tools to pursue a career in HR but also instilled confidence in her.

"It feels amazing," she said. When asked why she chose to walk at the fall 2024 Commencement ceremony, her daughter alongside her, Vazquez said, “I felt that I owed it to myself and my daughter — and it’s just an initiation of all the good things to come.”

Abigayle Mahnken ’22 is an assistant content writer at Õ¬ÄÐƵµÀ (SNHU), where she earned a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in English and is currently earning a Master of Arts (MA) in English and Creative Writing. Passionate about storytelling and education, she enjoys learning from fellow students' experiences and sharing their stories. In her free time, she loves spending time with her family, reading, and learning. She also really likes video games. Connect with her on .