Marilyn Diamond may be a “non traditional student,” but that doesn’t mean she hasn’t found her niche at Syracuse University. “Because I’d been out of high school so long, I worried that I would feel awkward,” says the social work major and mother of three. “But I have met other students like me, and I have been embraced by my professors. Now I realize that the life experience I bring has really enriched my education.”

Marilyn says her desire to help people, and her talent at it, is what drew her to social work. “I was always good at helping people through crises,” she says. Initially, she wanted to work with families affected by HIV and AIDS, but found she has a talent for working with young people. “I relate to them, and they to me,” she says.

In addition to being a student, Marilyn is a youth advocate with CNY Works, a local nonprofit corporation that connects job seekers, employers, and training services to create a network of resources. There, she works with the out-of-school population, encouraging them to earn a GED and continue their education. She goes out of her way to connect with them. “I listen to the same music they listen to, watch the same TV shows, read the same books,” she says. “I try to speak their language.”

Her passion for people has led her to consider entering the field of education, working with special needs children and helping them reach their full potential. She recognizes the role education has played in her own life, and wants to share the inspiration she feels with others. She says every success she has experienced as a student has brought to mind her grandmother, who, although she had only a seventh grade education, always encouraged her children and grandchildren to strive for more. “She wanted what was best for us.”

Marilyn says she has reached that goal by coming to Syracuse University. “It has a culture all its own,” she says. “I get caught up in the environment here. There’s an undercurrent of positive energy that my spirit thrives on. Everyone has a hunger for learning.”

When asked what advice she would offer a student just coming to the University, she answers quickly: “Be teachable. Be Open. Get to know yourself. And have fun; enjoy the journey.”