Alexa Gilpin
After being a stay-at-home mother to three daughters for eight years, Alexa Gilpin felt it was time to enroll at Delaware Tech, pursue a career in human services, and show her daughters that it is never too late to achieve your dream.
“I remember the daunting syllabuses with unimaginable expectations, and thinking to myself, ‘How am I going to do this?’” Gilpin said. “Navigating college after being out of school for so many years was terrifying, but the best choice I ever made. College gave me a few wake-up calls as well as a plethora of life lessons. It taught me that failure is unavoidable, and how you respond to failure determines the type of person you are. This journey has been incredible, eye opening and the greatest contributor to my confidence.”
Gilpin chose human services due to her own personal experiences with interpersonal domestic violence and seeing a need for assistance and support in the field.
“I wanted to be someone who could guide another through healing and advocate for the injuries that many survivors face within the legal system,” Gilpin said. “I wanted to be that person for someone who truly deserves to be heard and respected for their bravery and strength during difficult times in their life."
When she started at the College, Gilpin decided to become involved by volunteering as often as possible and getting involved with groups and programs. She was inducted into the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society and even became an officer, which was her most memorable experience during her time in college.
As she pursued her degree, Gilpin said she had great support from both her family and from Delaware Tech faculty.
“I owe a thank you to my parents and my husband for being my greatest motivators these last two years,” she said. “They have listened to my complaints, encouraged and advised me, and most importantly, loved me every step of the way.
“And I could not be more thankful for the unwavering support that I received from my advisor, William Hoffecker. There was never a time when he was unavailable to counsel me or give me words of encouragement. His methods of teaching captivated my interest and love in counseling, and I enjoyed every minute of his lectures.”
Gilpin is already employed as a domestic violence advocate with CHILDinc and plans to continue working there while enrolling at Wilmington University to study psychology with a concentration in trauma informed care. Her goal is to one day open her own cognitive behavior therapy practice.
“So much has changed in so little time,” Gilpin said. “It doesn’t seem possible that the person I am today could be the same person who first stepped on campus two years ago. All those times in the past when I thought I wouldn’t make it now mean nothing. It was all worth it.”
