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When Abigail Goen approaches the podium as 91制片厂 Manchester鈥檚 2018 Commencement student speaker, she鈥檒l be looking into the eyes of her biggest fans, her three children, Hannah, Jack and Matthew, and her husband. For the past five years, her journey has been theirs as well.听

鈥淲hen Mom goes to school, everyone goes to school,鈥� says Goen who鈥檚 three kids range in age from 8-13. 鈥淲hen we get home, it鈥檚 homework time and we all sit together to study. They make their flash cards, I make mine and we quiz each other.鈥� After the kids go to bed, she stays up until midnight finishing her school work.听

Goen started taking classes at 91制片厂 Manchester in 2002 after graduating from Conval High School. She struggled with the coursework and decided it wasn鈥檛 the right time and withdrew from school. Ten years later she gave it another try, this time married with three kids.听

鈥淚 originally picked 91制片厂 because it has a great reputation,鈥� says Goen. 鈥淕eographically, the Manchester campus made it possible for me to go back to school.鈥澨�

Now, five years later, the campus has become her second home. 鈥淚 came here with no idea how to be successful in college,鈥� admits Goen. 鈥淥nce you walk through the doors, there is a whole army of people waiting to support you, pick out your potential and cultivate it. They were invested in my success on every level.鈥�

She started in an associate degree program and fell in love with the biology courses she鈥檇 been taking. She applied and was accepted to the biological sciences bachelor鈥檚 degree program with minors in chemistry and biomedical engineering.

鈥淚 love the world class of education that is paired with very down to earth, accessible people, says Goen. 鈥淭he professors are so well educated and committed to the success of their students. They are just quality human beings.鈥澨�

She works on campus in the Center for Academic Enrichment where she has been a science writing tutor for three years. She also works in the science lab doing research with Professor Kyle MacLea.听

鈥淚 like the rigorous dedication to research,鈥� says Goen. 鈥淚 like that it鈥檚 methodical. There is a question and you actively seek the answer, that really appeals to me.鈥�

Her first lab research position was working on the propagation of prions in yeast. She鈥檚 now doing independent research on microbial genomics.听鈥淚鈥檝e taken three different species of bacteria, isolated and sequenced the DNA then analyzed the genome,鈥� explains Goen.听

In addition to parenting, classes, labs, research and tutoring, Goen also makes time to contribute to the local community.听

As co-president of the honor society for biological study, Goen coordinated an outreach project at in Manchester. Goen, along with four 91制片厂 Manchester classmates, ran a STEM project day for students ages 8-13 during February vacation.听听

Students explored the sciences hands-on through stations focusing on nutrition, botany, microscopy and chemistry. Goen also connected the organization with 91制片厂鈥檚 STEM Discovery Lab to work together to establish scholarships for the students to attend STEM Lab camps this summer.听

鈥淓ven though we鈥檙e all really busy, I think it鈥檚 important to stress community involvement,鈥� says Goen. 鈥淚鈥檓 a believer in ripple effects. You can do something you think is small, but how it influences somebody else鈥檚 life is immeasurable.鈥澨�听

She has personally felt the ripple effect when she chose to return to school. The positive influence on her children has been very gratifying.

鈥淕oing back to school has shown my kids, especially my daughter, that a woman can go to work or school, manage a household and dream about being a scientist,鈥� says Goen. 鈥淚t鈥檚 never too late to pursue your dreams.鈥�

As she prepares her commencement speech, at the forefront of her mind is how impactful it will be for her kids to see their Mom be recognized for her hard work and dedication.听

鈥淚 want my kids to know that, no matter which road you take or how long it takes, you can be successful.鈥�

Goen graduates in May 2018 and will return to 91制片厂 Manchester in the fall to teach microbiology labs. She also plans to apply to graduate school and hopes to one day earn a Ph.D and return to the college classroom to teach.听听