Barnegat Woman, 1st Generation College Student, Shares Passion For Helping

BARNEGAT, NJ — “No matter how hard things seem, continue to always persevere and push yourself,” said Georgian Court University graduate Amanda Ricci.

The Barnegat native and first generation college student is working to make positive change in the world with her degree in social work.

Ricci credited GCU's TRIO program for helping her achieve her educational goals. TRIO provides services for those from disadvantaged backgrounds, with eight programs targeted to serve and assist low-income individuals, first-generation college students, and individuals with disabilities to progress through the academic pipeline from middle school to postbaccalaureate programs.

“The TRIO staff and other first-gen TRIO scholars helped me feel included in a community devoted to not letting any obstacle define who you are,” Ricci said.

Ricci also suffers from anxiety and mental health issues. But she wants to break the stigma and help others who have the same struggles. “I didn’t really have anybody in high school to help me through those struggles, so I want to work in a high school and work directly with teenagers, helping them with their challenges,” she said.

She has served as the president of the Social Work Club for two years, and has worked many events for suicide prevention, domestic violence, and tirelessly perseveres to give back to the community. Ricci also worked with one of her professors to research the effectiveness of implemented suicide prevention programs.

But she also advocates for the planet. In her time at GCU, Ricci traveled to Washington D.C to work with the Catholic Climate Covenant and speak with legislators for reform in regard to climate change.

“I am driven by a passion for systemic change and a desire to implement well-served social interventions,” said Ricci. “As a social work student at GCU, I am grateful for an education that allows me to strive for my goal to one day lead community-based initiatives.”

At GCU, she earned a spot on the President’s List for all four years and the Ethical Leadership in Social Justice Award. Ricci now heads to earn her Master of Social Work degree at Stockton University.

Ricci said she was thankful for the Office of Student Success and Advocacy at GCU, along with her professors.

“They push you to try things you never thought you would try before. I never imagined that I would be doing all of the things that I did,” she said. “With the support of my professors, it made it easier to move forward, overcome a variety of challenges, and succeed in ways I never imagined I would. I feel they never doubted my abilities to be a social worker, despite facing my own mental health battle.”

Now, Ricci heads off to make a difference in the world.

“Anything is possible if you have it within yourself,” Ricci said. “I realized that I can do so much more than my mind is telling me I can.”