For years, LaTanya Glasco devoted her life to being a mother first. Raising three daughters as a single parent, she prioritized their needs above her own, making sacrifices and putting her dreams on hold—values she learned from her loving, supportive parents.
But now, with her children grown, she’s finally giving herself the chance to focus on her own path—a journey that has led her back to school and into a role that allows her to inspire others.
LaTanya is not just a student at Germanna; she’s also an early college advisor, guiding high school students as they take their first steps into higher education. But just a few years ago, she never would have imagined herself in this position.
“I kept battling with the idea of going to school,” she recalls. “I had to be a mom first. But once the girls got older, I realized it was my time.” LaTanya enrolled in business management courses at Germanna in 2022, driven by the dream of one day owning her own business. Education, however, was just one piece of the transformation.
“I was a good student in high school and really enjoyed school. But when it came time for me to go to college, I didn’t want to go away. I wasn’t ready to go to that next level.”
After graduating from Spotsylvania High School, LaTanya took on cooking roles, starting in fast food before moving into different culinary settings. But after years of working in the industry, she began to feel the physical toll of the profession. When an injury forced her to step away, she saw it as a sign to pursue a new path.
Determined to make a change, she kept an eye on Germanna’s job postings, hoping for an opportunity. When she finally received the call for an interview, she knew she was stepping into something life-changing.
After years of working with youth—coaching basketball and mentoring—LaTanya found yet another meaningful way to make an impact. A year after starting her degree, she landed the role of early college advisor at Germanna in 2023, fulfilling her lifelong passion for working with young people.
“From day one, my co-workers on the Student Success team encouraged me to put school first,” she says. “If I’d been working somewhere else, that wouldn’t have happened.”
Now, she balances her coursework with two jobs—advising at Germanna during the day and working with elementary students in the afternoon. It’s a challenging schedule, but she embraces it, knowing that every step she takes is for her own growth.
“It’s been a challenge,” she admits. “Even with just two classes, it’s a lot to juggle. But I love the challenge of going back to school.”
Her daughters, who have always been the center of her world and her greatest inspiration, now stand by her as her biggest cheerleaders. They check in on her grades, encourage her studies, and celebrate her wins—like the moments she has made the Dean’s List.
And now, LaTanya shares the Germanna experience with her youngest daughter, who is also a student.
“It’s been crazy going to school with her,” she says. “It’s gotten to be a little competitive! But it’s given me another way to bond with her.”
More than just a student, more than just an advisor, LaTanya has found a community at Germanna. She has discovered a support system that encourages her to push forward, not just for herself but for the students she mentors every day.
To other adult learners who may be hesitating to take that first step, LaTanya has a simple message: “Just do it. It’s going to be scary, it’s going to be a challenge, but the support you get is incredible.”
Looking back, she sees how far she has come—not just as a student, but as a person. Once quiet and reserved, she now feels like she’s truly living and following her dreams.
“I’ve gotten to a point where I feel like I’m living, not just being,” she says.
At Germanna, LaTanya has found more than an education; she has found herself.