Crystal Chapman

A couple years ago, Crystal Chapman started noticing something on her way to work: BCC's "free college" billboard on Merrill Road in Pittsfield. Crystal had graduated from high school in 2003 and had entered the workforce right away, finding employment in the restaurant business, and soon found herself a busy mother of two with little time to think about herself. An idea started to form, but it didn't take hold just yet.

Crystal had her daughter shortly after graduating high school, raising her solo until meeting her husband. Together, they had a son, who was eventually diagnosed as autistic — and Crystal's daughter also had persistent mental health issues. She became a staunch advocate for both of her children, constantly fighting for their diagnoses and access to resources — all while working full time and supporting the family's lawncare business, Lawn Wrangler. Born and raised in Pittsfield and now a resident of Cheshire, Crystal loves her life in Berkshire County, but as she describes it, "there was something missing along the way."

"I always chose jobs that worked around our schedules so that I could be a present parent," she says. "Obviously, having an autistic son and a daughter with mental health issues means spending a lot of time supporting them, making sure they have everything they need." But as the children grew older and became more independent — her son is high-functioning and her daughter is a sophomore at Merrimack College — she began to wonder what was in store for her future.

"I really hadn't even thought about going to college until I saw that billboard," says Crystal, who decided to talk it over with her husband. "He said, 'You know, you really have a gift, and it would be a waste to not look into this.' That's when I started looking into BCC."

Now in her third semester, Crystal plans to graduate next spring with an associate degree in social work. While she hasn't yet determined her ultimate career path, the options are becoming clearer as she gains more and more credits. What she didn't foresee, however, was having her work accepted into two online course guides published by W.W. Norton and Company, a textbook company that publishes the prestigious "Norton Anthology of English Literature" — "Contemporary Public Speaking," available now, and "The Norton Field Guide to Speaking, Second Edition," available this fall. Crystal was just a freshman when her videos were submitted and accepted.

"My first semester at BCC, I took Intro to Oral Communications, which is basically a public speaking class," Crystal recalls. "Public speaking has never been something I've loved, but I had to turn in video assignments, including an informative one." To her surprise, her professor, impressed with her work, suggested she submit it to Norton's speaker's contest.

"So I did that, and I got an email back that said, 'We think your video is great, and we'd like to use it as a student example in some of our upcoming online textbooks,'" Crystal says. "It was my first semester in college, I hadn't been in school since 2003, and I didn't think I was even that good at public speaking. It was definitely a confidence booster."

That boost now has Crystal thinking about eventually earning her master's degree. For now, she is enjoying learning about the many career paths available in her field as she completes her courses. For her field work requirement, she is considering spending one semester in the school system and one with adults.

"Maybe I'll start with high school kids, since I think they are some of the most vulnerable. The youth are in need, especially if we can catch them before they get out into the world," she says. "Then, I might do some field work outside of schools, because adults face the same problems, the same mental health issues."

She would know. Her real-world experience is proving to be an asset as she explores her career options.

"Having two children with special needs, I could see where the gaps are, especially with mental health. We had a really hard time finding good help, so that became a passion," Crystal says. "There are many people like my daughter out there, and they need support."

While things have improved since her children were little, Crystal says access to resources is still a challenge for many.

"When my kids were growing up, no one said, 'Hey, these are your resources.' It's good to know I'm going into a field where I can help connect people with those resources. I can help parents like me, parents with a child in need that don't know where to turn."

When it comes to resources at BCC, though, that's a different story, Crystal says. 

"BCC has really good resources that you can always fall back on, whether it's the writing center, or tutoring, or meeting with your advisor so they can help you work things out," she says. "I still struggle sometimes, but we all go through things in life. I didn't come right out of high school, so good study habits were not fresh in my mind. I had to remember how to sit down and do homework and figure out my time management skills, but the teachers are always available for help when you need it."

Sometimes, Crystal says, you just have to follow your intuition and take that first step.

"I saw that billboard and said, 'Okay, maybe I can do this,'" she says. "Even if you can just go talk to someone at BCC — just check it out. It's about not doubting yourself. There are so many resources available to you."

Crystal also sings the praises of community college in general, which she sees as an integral part of the community.

We can't downplay some of the problems we have in our communities — drugs, dropout rates, homelessness — but a community college is so important because it's for all members of the community. I'm in school with so many people who are studying to be recovery coaches or mental health coaches. That helps build us up. There are great things in Berkshire County. There are problems, too, but we can help fill a need and build up a community.

And that sense of community is vital to Crystal, who says she loves where she lives. When she isn't busy with her schoolwork or her job, she enjoys walking on the nearby Ashuwillticook Trail or kayaking on Cheshire Lake. She also has a passion for gardening.

"I love to get my hands in the dirt. It's very therapeutic. I can probably work that into my mental health work, like garden therapy or making community gardens — that would be amazing," Crystal says. "I was very involved with my kids for a long time. Now I'm figuring out what I want to do for me. It's definitely rewarding."