‘This Isn’t Just for Me’: Rayna Jones Setting an Example at Sandburg
Aaron Frey
Thursday, May 13, 2021 3:59 PM
Campus News
Galesburg, IL
Each of the three times Rayna Jones left Carl Sandburg College because life got in the way, she kept coming back for one simple reason.
“I know there's better for me than what I've had to do,” Jones said. “I've been a bartender and a waitress and done little jobs. To me, I'm worth more than that. So I've always wanted to come back and do something for myself.”
Jones first enrolled in general education courses at Sandburg nearly 20 years ago, but as a working mother of three, finding a way to finish school was a challenge.
“Something always messed it up,” said Jones, 41, who lives in Galesburg. “My personal issues always got in the way.”
She finally crossed the stage at graduation in 2019 with her medical office assistant certificate, but still not satisfied, she stayed at Sandburg another semester to earn her associate in applied science degree last fall in medical office professional.
Then, as she was babysitting her grandchildren last fall, Jones took a CPR/first aid class and realized she wanted to go from helping patients while behind a desk to assisting them firsthand. That led to her taking prerequisites this semester for Sandburg’s licensed practical nursing (LPN) program, which she was accepted to in April. If everything goes according to plan, she’ll graduate next spring with her LPN certificate.
“I want to help people,” Jones said. “The older I get, the more compassionate I guess I've gotten.”
Now instead of having reasons to leave school, these days Jones is finding reasons to keep coming back to Sandburg for more. Her motivation stems from wanting to set an example for her three children, Damien Hornback, 23; Justin Smith Jr., 16; and Meghyn Smith, 15.
“I want better for me and my kids,” Jones said. “I want to be a good role model for them because they don't have that from anyone else. And we deserve better. This isn't just for me; this is for my kids.”
Jones credited Sandburg counselor Vicki McMullin for being the person who’s helped her the most on her educational journey. Asked what made McMullin so influential, Jones replied, “Everything.”
“She's the best person, the best mentor, the best counselor, the best figure that I've ever had in my life,” Jones said. “She's the one that believed in me and pushed me to go further and further and further. I can always go to her and talk about everything, no matter if it was personal or school-related. If it wasn't for her, I don't think I would have stuck it out.”
After almost two decades — with a few bumps and curves along the way — Jones can finally see a clear path for her future.
“It's been a long road. It's been a hard road,” Jones said. “I don't want it to be hard anymore, and that's why I'm doing this.”
Rayna Jones