No one in my family had ever gone to college, so we never had any conversations about what to do after high school. I wasn’t a great student, so no one at my high school ever talked to me about college either. I thought I would finish high school and hopefully find a decent-paying job. I barely made it through high school, so the idea of going to college never crossed my mind as an option.
Fast forward a few years, and I was working at the Capital One call center. One of my co-workers, Rachel Haley, was someone I had also gone to high school with. We were talking one day, and she mentioned the classes she was taking at Germanna. She said, “You should take classes.” At the time, I had a 2-year-old, so not only did I think going to college was a crazy idea for me, but I also made excuses like, “I have a baby, I work full-time,” etc. Rachel suggested I just take one class and see how I liked it. It took me a while to get up the nerve, but I finally did.
I met with a counselor, and he asked me what I wanted to do, what I was interested in, how many classes I wanted to take, how many credits, and more. With every question, I grew more and more overwhelmed because I didn’t know what half of the things he talked about even were.
I ended up selecting the Business Management program because it seemed interesting, and I was curious about business. I started by enrolling in one class, and I really liked it. I was getting good grades, too. When that first class ended, I remember thinking to myself, “Maybe you aren’t as dumb as you thought.” With each passing semester, I gained more confidence and motivation until I felt comfortable taking two classes, then three.
Right before my last semester, I applied for a job as the Administrative Assistant in the Counseling Department—and to my surprise, I got the job! Dr. Sarah Somerville and Dean Pamela Frederick were my first supervisors at Germanna. They were incredibly supportive, and although I had worked with amazing people before, they were different. They believed in my potential even when I doubted myself. Their encouragement and support challenged me to take risks, embrace new experiences, and grow in ways I never thought possible.
Pam Frederick, Dean of Student Services, once told me that I was “a natural-born leader.” For her to say something like that was a huge compliment, especially coming from a leader like her.
I started as a full-time employee in March of 2006, and in May of 2006, I graduated with my Associate’s in Applied Science in Business Management. One of my professors, Randy Martin, kept asking me when I was going to pursue my bachelor’s degree. Again, that thought had never crossed my mind, so I just laughed it off. He kept pushing me, and one day he said, “Just go talk to the advisor and see what will transfer and what you still have left to take.”
He must have suggested the University of Mary Washington (UMW) because that’s where I scheduled an advising meeting and met with an advisor. I remember the feeling I had when I walked into the building—I didn’t feel like I belonged there at all, but I wasn’t turning back. Although my degree was not designed as a transfer degree (which I didn’t fully understand at the time), all the classes I had taken at Germanna transferred to UMW. I could even take some of the classes I needed for my bachelor’s degree at Germanna, and the rest I could take at UMW. This was really exciting.
I continued taking one or two classes at a time, feeling like it would take forever to finish. Then, I was presented with an opportunity to apply for the Chancellor’s Fellowship scholarship. This would allow me to attend school full-time for the first time and not have to work—really enjoy the college experience. I applied for the scholarship with support from our president at the time, Dr. David Sam, Dr. Sarah Somerville, Dean Pam Frederick, and others. To my surprise, a few weeks later, I received a phone call from Dr. Sam telling me I had been selected for the fellowship. I cried in disbelief. I couldn’t believe I had been selected, and in less than a year, I would have my bachelor’s degree! What a blessing to me and my family.
I had heard several times that if a parent goes to college, the chances of their children going to college increase tremendously. That thought kept replaying in my mind and gave me all the motivation I needed to finish my degree. The time came, and I, Anita Newhouse, was graduating with a bachelor’s degree! I couldn’t believe I was walking across the stage at a university to receive my Bachelor of Leadership and Management degree. When I saw my husband and kids’ sweet little faces smiling at me with so much pride, it melted my heart. Now, I get to see that same look on family members’ faces when they watch their loved ones graduate!
Shortly after finishing my bachelor’s degree, a new position was posted at the college—one that required a bachelor’s degree, and now I had one! The position was to bring back the student loan program as the Student Loan Coordinator in Financial Aid. I really enjoyed this work because it was a way to help remove financial barriers for students.
I was in this position for about a year and a half when a new opportunity was introduced—a new position as the Welcome Center Manager, responsible for designing, planning, and implementing a Welcome Center at each college location. This was an amazing and challenging experience. I was selected to attend different leadership programs, such as Lead Culpeper and the Chancellor’s Leadership Program. I learned so much and gained a lot of confidence. Everyone around me was supportive and encouraged me to keep moving forward. After all, when you work in higher education, furthering your education is key. So, it was time to pursue my master’s degree.
I researched online graduate programs and talked with many leaders at the college before deciding to enroll at Liberty University. I chose to pursue my master’s in counseling and enrolled in the Master of Arts in Human Services Counseling with a minor in Life Coaching. Talk about disbelief . . . I finished this degree and was promoted to the Assistant Director of Enrollment Services, where I facilitated the transition of A&R to Enrollment Services and oversaw Enrollment Services for several years.
I started to feel like it was time for a change and applied for a few positions that didn’t work out. But everything happens for a reason, because soon after that, my dream job was posted—a counselor at Germanna. I had always wanted to be a counselor, working in the same office where I started my journey at the college. This position required a master’s degree, and now I had mine, so I could apply.
I interviewed for and was offered the job in 2022, and I feel like I am exactly where I am meant to be. I get to help students with many different challenges and barriers. I love my job, and it’s hard to express just how grateful I am to Germanna, my supervisors, other leaders, administrators, and colleagues for seeing more potential in me than I ever could see in myself, taking a chance on me, and believing in me. It’s been an incredibly humbling experience, and I am so grateful.
My life has been forever changed. Our kids went to college, and we’ve been able to experience things as a family that we never would have otherwise. I couldn’t have done any of this without the support of my husband, Bobby. He has been an unwavering source of support and encouragement, even when I wanted to give up. He is my best friend, and his belief in me has played a significant role in my growth and confidence. I couldn’t have done this without him pushing me when I needed it.
Sometimes, this story still feels like it’s about someone else. It’s hard to express how grateful I am. Lord willing, I will be at Germanna and able to pay it forward, as long as they’ll let me.