Learning at His Own Pace, Giving Back with Purpose

Timothy Balser found his calling in teaching but first, he had to learn how to advocate for himself. At CT State Community College Gateway, he discovered what it meant to move at your own pace, build confidence, and be supported. Now he plans to do the same for others.

When Timothy first enrolled at Gateway at age 23, he wasn’t sure what he wanted in addition to a second chance. His education had been stop-and-start, shaped by life changes and personal challenges. Over time, Gateway became a space where he could grow into the version of himself he’d always hoped to become.

“I had to figure things out piece by piece.” he said.

Before coming to Gateway, Timothy attended Franklin Academy, a school that supports neurodivergent students. There that he first imagined becoming a teacher. His goal began to take shape more clearly at Gateway.

Living independently in New Haven and commuting to campus, to class, juggled work, school, and the many responsibilities of adult life. His decade-long journey at Gateway included periods of both growth and grief, from the disruptions of the pandemic to the loss of his girlfriend

“The grief nearly broke me,” he said. “But I had people here who kept me going.”

Two of those people were Ron and Sue who work in Student Accessibility Services. Others were faculty, advisors, and peers. He also found guidance through Gateway’s Counseling Office. “That was huge,” Timothy said. “I think it’s important for students to know, you don’t have to do this alone.”

He graduated in 2025 and will transfer to Southern Connecticut State University. He hopes to one day return to Franklin Academy as a teacher.

“My dream is to go back and teach students like me,” he said. “To meet them where they are, not where the system expects them to be.”

Timothy received scholarships from the Gateway Community College Foundation, but he’s honest about how tight the financial margins were.

“There were times I had to choose between groceries and a doctor’s appointment,” he said. “Any extra support would have meant a lot.”

For students like Timothy, your generosity fills the gap between potential and opportunity.
Because of donors like you, Timothy was able to persist and graduate.

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