Four years ago, Lillie Williams walked into the office of Education Advisor Maurice Fitzgerald at the Worcester Educational Opportunity Center in tears. She knew she needed to go back to school, but was frightened -- she didn't know where to start.
She had tried postsecondary education many years ago as a young adult, but had dropped out due to personal circumstances. She knew if she were going to go back and begin her educational journey again, she needed someone to guide her.
Her Mass Rehabilitation counselor suggested she call the EOC for help.
In the four years after Lillie first came to EOC, she completed her associate’s degree in human services at Quinsigamond Community College and transferred to the urban studies program at Worcester State University.
"Without Maurice and the other EOC advisors, I would not be where I am today,” Lillie says. “I love school. I didn't think I could do this when I first came to EOC -- now look! I love what I am majoring in, and I tell everyone to come to EOC because they can do it too!"