Bianca Found Her Voice and a Path Forward Thanks to You
When Bianca Belade graduated high school, she didn’t feel ready for college. At her school, the path was clear: SAT scores, four-year universities, and big expectations. But COVID changed everything, and deep down, she knew she needed a different way forward.
One that felt like it was hers.
That beginning was CT State Community College Gateway.
Her advisor mentioned it, but the word stuck with her: “opportunity.” Gateway provided resources she hadn’t even known to ask for: resume support, leadership roles, and, most importantly, a renewed sense of confidence.
Raised in Shelton, Connecticut, she spent much of her early education feeling unseen. She was placed in special education programs and felt both underestimated and uncertain if college was even a possibility. But she arrived at Gateway with a new mindset, Determined to succeed.
“I didn’t want to take no for an answer,” she says. “I wanted to prove to myself that I could do this.”
And she did.
She turned academic doubt into distinction transforming high school Consumer Math into college-level statistics, and essays once written with hesitation into polished arguments on Business Law. She dedicated long hours in the tutoring center and with support of professors like Catherine Babbitt, Associate Professor of Developmental English who saw her potential early. Bianca used her individualized education plan as a tool to stay organized, focused, and in control of her academic growth.
As her confidence grew, so did her commitment to others. She became vice president of marketing and PR and later vice president of records for Phi Theta Kappa, Gateway’s honor society chapter. She promoted the Career Closet to help fellow students dress for success, served as a student orientation leader, and advocated for access to resources many students didn’t know they could ask for.
Her drive didn’t go unnoticed.
Bianca was named to the 2025 All-Connecticut Academic Team, a statewide recognition awarded to top-performing community college students by Connecticut State Colleges & Universities, the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation, and Phi Theta Kappa. She earned the Coca-Cola Academic Team Bronze Scholarship and was selected for the Melton McAvay Equity and Social Justice Fellowship, a prestigious honor for students committed to advancing equity and social justice on campus and beyond.
She graduated from CT State Gateway with a 3.95 GPA, Dean’s List honors every semester, and a psychology transfer degree.
She heads to Southern Connecticut State University to major in psychology with a concentration in mental health and a double minor in Medical Spanish and business administration. Her goal is to become a bilingual therapist supporting marginalized youth and families who, like her, deserve to be seen and heard.
“I’m proud to be a Gateway graduate,” Bianca says. “Because of everything I gained here: confidence, leadership skills, and the courage to dream bigger.”
She hopes her story helps others understand that community college isn’t a step back, it’s often the exact step forward someone needs.
“Gateway gave me the second chance I didn’t know I needed. It helped me find my voice, take steady steps forward, and believe I could grow into someone who makes a difference.”
Help more students like Bianca thrive.
Scholarship support made a life-changing difference in Bianca’s journey and she’s not alone. Your generosity opens doors to education, leadership, and brighter futures.
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