John Hoyt

When John Hoyt was in high school, his guidance counselor told him he “wasn’t cut out for college.” Fifteen years later, John is proving that counselor wrong.

Last spring, he graduated with high honors and an associate degree in human services
from Northern Essex. He is now enrolled at the University of New Hampshire (UNH) with plans to earn a doctorate in psychology.

This 34-year-old father of two worked full time as a residential counselor at a group home for youths with behavioral issues while attending NECC. He participated in the college’s rigorous honors experience, an enrichment program for highly motivated students. Enrolling in college 10 years after graduating from high school wasn’t easy, admits John. “My initial challenge was managing my time. The second challenge was how to handle the concept of going back to school after being out for so long.”

John credits his “invested” professors with helping him to succeed. “Professors in my program answered questions about academics as well as the human service field. I found everyone to be helpful and passionate about their work.”

A career-changer who previously worked in the banking industry, John has found his niche in human services, a field which he discovered after taking a psychology course.

With the support of his girlfriend—who is now his wife—he found the courage to make the change, leave his job in banking and become a residential counselor.

John says transferring from Northern Essex to UNH was “just about seamless.” Once he completes a degree in psychology, he plans to continue on for his master’s and his doctorate.

“As far as my career, I will continue on in human services, possibly on the clinical side
or in case management.”