A few years ago, when Campus Life was looking for an instructor to lead private Zumba classes for its main campus students, Winsome Hamilton from the Waterbury YMCA answered the call.
“I’d lived in Waterbury, but I had never heard of Post University or knew about the campus,” recalls Hamilton. “Coming to campus to teach the Zumba classes was my first introduction. I enjoyed it.”
Fast-forward to 2019. That introduction to the University stuck with Hamilton. It got her thinking about her passion. Children and a degree in child studies. “I love children. As a person who is single and has no children, I thought it would benefit me to pursue this degree then I would have the chance to nurture those children in the earliest age group in a classroom setting,” explained Hamilton.
Utilizing her YMCA – Post University Corporate Partnership tuition reduction, and taking two or three courses every term, Hamilton worked on a degree. Her grade point average or GPA also caught the attention of the Honors Program Director, who invited Hamilton to be part of the inaugural class of online honors students. An opportunity that was both exciting and nerve-wracking for Hamilton. She wondered if she could take honors classes and keep up with the demands of her job.
In the end, Winsome Hamilton excelled at both. While working toward her degree, she was an early childhood education teacher with Easter Seals Greater Waterbury and part of the Wellness Department at the Greater Waterbury YMCA teaching various fitness classes on weekends. She kept up with her studies at night and on weekends, even if it meant skipping a night out with friends.
Last year, Hamilton earned her Bachelor of Science in Child Studies degree. More importantly, she graduated as the 2022 Valedictorian of the Accelerated Degree Program (ADP) at Post. A moment of personal pride for her as it recognized all that she put into earning her degree while balancing work and a personal life.
Today, Winsome has transitioned into a role at the University as a First Year Experience Student Success Advisor working with ADP students who have earned 24 credits or less.
Upon hearing the news that Winsome, who studied in the Burke School, became an associate, James Whitney, Dean of the School smiled proudly. “I still remember feeling so inspired when Winsome delivered her address at our 2022 Commencement. Her story of focus, persistence, and belief in herself will definitely motivate and resonate with our incoming students,” Whitley said. “Students will be excited to learn that their advisor is an alumna herself who understands first-hand what it’s like to juggle personal and academic priorities successfully.”
As she begins her new role as a Student Success Advisor, Hamilton fully embraces the quote from businessperson Mary Kay Ash, the founder of Mary Kay Cosmetics. “Don’t limit yourself. Many people limit themselves to what they think they can do. You can go as far as your mind lets you. What you believe you can achieve.”
You’re a great role model for our students.