Carrie Lovejoy, 40, of Newburg graduates with highest honors, earning an associate degree in general studies.
Lovejoy is a career-changer. After working for more than a decade in community journalism with Southern Maryland Newspapers, including five years as editor of The Calvert Recorder, Lovejoy is working toward earning the credentials to pursue a lifelong dream of becoming an English teacher. She plans to continue her education through UMUC and eventually teach middle school English.
“I had a great career in journalism for 15 years, but knew I wanted something different. The thing was, I had very few options because I had never gotten my bachelor’s degree,” Lovejoy said. “One day, after I left The Calvert Recorder, I was doing contract writing work and my supervisor told me they wanted to make my job permanent. They were creating a position for me. When I told her I didn’t have a bachelor’s degree, she immediately knew she couldn’t hire me, despite, by that time, 17 years in writing and editing. That’s what finally did it for me. I talked to my husband and we agreed that it was time for me to go back to school full time. I was signed up for classes within the week.”
Two years later, she is halfway to her goal and appreciating her time at CSM. “I will miss the classroom setting, which allows for friendship and collaboration with classmates and the professor. I will miss this beautiful campus and all of the opportunities it affords. I have had such a great time here and made such great friends of all ages.”
Lovejoy notes that in some ways it would have been better for her to earn her degree 20 years ago. “But I don’t regret a minute of my career or the choices I’ve made,” she said. “God had a plan for me, and it did not include a single straight road. But that’s okay, because curves and turns are more fun anyway.”
Lovejoy is married and the mother of two daughters.