Jannyl Fabian of Haverhil is a familiar face at TD Bank. She graduates from NECC on May 18 with a business degree.

Jannyl Fabian wanted to attend college…just not in Haverhill.

So the 2016 Haverhill High School graduate turned to another Massachusetts community college 30 miles away, but after a year and a half the commute took its toll on her and her grades.

“It just wasn’t going well. The commute was challenging,” she said. “I was eager to be in a new environment, but I quickly realized college is not just about making new friends. It’s about how well you do in school.”

In the fall of 2017, she enrolled at NECC, which was much closer to her Haverhill home.

“It was the best decision I’ve ever made in my life,” the 21-year-old said.

In May she graduates with an associate degree in business transfer with a 3.48 GPA. Later this year, she hopes to join her mom in Florida, work full time, and earn her bachelor’s degree on a part-time basis.

Fabian was inspired to attend college by both her parents who emigrated from the Dominican Republic, learned English, and graduated from college.

“I knew if they could accomplish that, the least I could do is graduate with a degree. I want to make them proud,” she said. “I wanted to study business because I knew without an education, my goals would be much harder to obtain.”

Fabian was active in Northern Essex’s Pathways to Academic and Career Excellence (PACE) Program, a federally funded program that supports first generation and financial eligible students.

“The staff in PACE helped so much. They never let me miss a deadline. They were always checking on me. I appreciate everything they have done for me,” she said.

She was also a member of the Phi Theta Kappa, the business honors society.

Her praise doesn’t end with the PACE staff.

“Northern Essex has been great. The faculty and staff give you motivation to come to school and do your best,” she said. “The faculty care about you. You aren’t just a number. They want to help you succeed. They want you to be the best versions of yourself.”

Even before graduating from NECC, she is putting her business degree to use. For the last year she has been working at TD Bank branch in Haverhill. She was recently promoted to assistant head teller. She hopes to secure a banking position in Florida when she is ready to move.

In five years Fabian hopes to have earned her bachelor’s in business, hold a high ranking banking position, and be a homeowner.

This is Jannyl’s story. What’s yours? #mycommunitycollege