In 2017 Megan Gwynn of Lorain almost gave up on finishing her associate of applied business degree from Lorain County Community College when she lost three close family members – her father, grandmother and father-in-law.

“The immense sadness nearly crushed me and I seriously considered not going on any further,” Gwynn says. “I pushed myself to continue and graduate in December of 2020.”

Gwynn, a 1991 graduate of Elyria High School, calls her 30-year path to a degree a “journey worth making.”

“I know I am resilient and strong and can do anything if I just try,” she says. “You just need some hope and to believe in yourself.”

Even with a strong belief in yourself, sometimes you do need a little help. For Gwynn that help came from her family, husband Jason and LCCC adjunct professor J. David Amos.

“My family has been very supportive and my husband Jason has been my ‘rock’, a shoulder to cry on when I felt all was lost,” Gwynn says.  “Professor Amos was amazing. He helped me through a very difficult time back in 2017. He offered words of encouragement and helped me to push through.”

The mother of four also garnered strength to complete her degree from her children. “Watching my oldest daughter Hailee graduate from LCCC and my youngest Elexis start her journey at LCCC has been encouraging and inspiring,” she says.

It’s also been comforting to be a student at LCCC as other family members have graduated from the community college.  “It’s a family affair. Besides my daughter Hailee, my dad and sister are LCCC graduates,” she notes.

She is considering continuing on to earn a bachelor’s of business management from Kent State through LCCC’s University Partnership to further her career.

But first, a little rest and relaxation is called for.  “I’m going to take a break to spend some time with my family,” she says.