Middlesex CC Makes Getting an Education Easy for Working Students

“Middlesex Community College is accommodating to each student’s lifestyle,” said Marlecka Men, a 2021 MCC graduate. “There are students who have kids, who work full-time to take care of their family, who don’t have a laptop, who don’t have a car. I felt that the college really understood that and wanted its students to succeed.”

For Men, Middlesex made attending college easy. From setting up her class schedule and having resources available at the ready, to offering affordable pricing and guiding her through the transfer process, MCC put Men on the right track to success.

Having graduating from MCC’s Paralegal Studies program, Men plans to attend the University of Massachusetts Lowell with the UMass Lowell Transfer Scholarship. She worked full-time while taking classes at Middlesex and believes the key to her success in school – which led to her being awarded the scholarship – comes down to time management.

“It means a lot to me because I know I worked hard, and it is being recognized and rewarded,” she said. “For all the students who are working full-time and going to school – don't give up, you are capable of anything you put your mind to.”

With her passion for law – and a background in healthcare – Men needed a solid start in order to transition into her new field. Studying to become a paralegal in MCC’s program was cost effective and provided her with a high-quality education and a clear pathway with MassTransfer to transfer her credits to a four-year college.

Men believes Middlesex was her “best choice” to start her journey to a law career. In addition to the program being American Bar Association (ABA) approved, she enjoyed following the curriculum and engaging with classmates and professors. Diving into the inner workings of law, including society and regulations, has changed Men’s perspective. She considers the information she learned in her classes to be “invaluable,” because it gave her a better sense of how law fits into her own life and showed her the importance of having individual rights.

Halye Sugarman, MCC’s Program Director of the Legal and Paralegal Studies Program, was a huge influence during Men’s time at the college. In her Criminal Law class, Sugarman included media – such as podcasts – to help students better relate theoretical concepts to real-life situations. For Men, this emphasized her interest in law and desire to help people in her career.

When she was feeling overwhelmed due to the pandemic, Men turned to Sugarman for support. Although Men was facing challenges that could have affected her education, Sugarman kept her on track with her goals and alerted her to the resources the college offered during this time.

“Professor Sugarman was not only a great professor, but she also reassured her students that they could still succeed even with the adversities we face,” Men said. “There has always been a teacher in my life that has influenced me to be who I am today. Professor Sugarman is permanently on that list of teachers who left a resounding impact in my life.”

Sugarman also recommended Men to serve on the MCC Paralegal Advisory Board as the Student Representative. Calling her role “empowering,” Men worked to highlight the strengths and needs of the program from the student perspective. It was a valuable learning experience for Men who appreciated having a chance to share her opinions.

“I was chosen because I was in the Paralegal Studies Transfer Program and Professor Sugarman wanted a diverse pool of students with different pathways to gain a greater understanding of the needs and successes of the Paralegal Studies program,” Men said. “It was a great feeling to feel heard.”

During her time at MCC, Men enjoyed attending Paralegal Studies virtual events, as well as workshops, presentations and informational sessions hosted by the Massachusetts Paralegal Program. Going to these sessions were not only helpful to Men’s education, they also were opportunities to learn how to network and apply to legal jobs.

In an internship class at Middlesex – taught by MCC Professor and Law Center Director Patricia Lemire, Esq. RN – Men took on an internship with the Lowell Court Service Center with the Mass. Trial Court. She has continued working after the class ended because she is trying to learn as much as she can about the law in Massachusetts.

“Everything I learned during this internship was helpful to me in my own life,” she said. “Ultimately, I grew my network and was able to connect with other students and professionals throughout Massachusetts.”

At UMass Lowell, Men plans to continue studying law and hopes to participate in the pre-law society, mock trial team and LSAT prep courses. Men – who has lived most of her life in Lowell – believes Middlesex brought her closer to her community, it is important to her to remain connected both to the city and the college in the future.

“Being Cambodian in a city where we have a large population of Cambodian Americans keeps me connected to my cultural roots and history,” she said. “As a member of the MCC Alumni Association I hope to reach out to young Cambodian Americans and be a mentor and guide them in their professional journey by volunteering my time and being part of their professional network.”

Part of the Public Service pathway, the Paralegal Studies program at MCC helps students go into – and succeed in – the workforce or transfer to four-year schools with its award-winning and affordable offerings, small class sizes and flexible schedules. For more information, visit https://www.middlesex.mass.edu/paralegal/ and discover your path at Middlesex.

If you have ever taken a class at MCC, you are an alum! To share your story – and join the free Alumni Association – contact Amy Lee, Director of Annual Giving & Alumni Relations, at 978-656-3028 or leea@middlesex.mass.edu. Visit www.middlesex.mass.edu/alumni for more information.

Students can get back on track and reach their goals with a variety of options in MCC’s Fall 2021 semester. Visit www.middlesex.mass.edu/registration/ or call 1-800-818-3434 to register.

Discover your path at Middlesex Community College. As one of the largest, most comprehensive community colleges in Massachusetts, MCC has been a proven leader in education for more than 50 years. Middlesex puts the student first. Meeting each learner where they are, MCC provides them with a safe, welcoming and engaging place to learn. Offering more than 80 degree and certificate programs – plus hundreds of noncredit courses – Middlesex features flexible course formats and a variety of award-winning student support services and resources. Student success starts at MCC!