Finding Her Path Forward: Amanda Taylor Builds a Future in Law at GTCC

“I’ve always had an interest in law and criminal justice,” Taylor said. “People being held accountable has always been important to me.”

When Amanda Taylor walked into Guilford Technical Community College for the first time, she was a mother of six, returning to school after years away, uncertain about what came next.

She graduates this spring with a 4.0 GPA.

Taylor, a paralegal technology student at GTCC, is also a member of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society and has been accepted to three universities: North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, East Carolina University, and the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, where she plans to pursue a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice before attending law school.

Originally from Clinton, N.C., a small town in Sampson County, Taylor grew up on a family farm before beginning adult life shortly after high school. Over time, her journey brought her to Greensboro, where she is now raising her six children and building a new future for herself and her family.

Her road to higher education was not a straight one. Earlier in life, Taylor experienced significant personal challenges that required strength, resilience, and, ultimately, the courage to start over. Those experiences shaped her perspective and inspired her to pursue a career in law.

“I’ve always had an interest in law and criminal justice,” Taylor said. “People being held accountable has always been important to me.”

After considering several options in the area and encouraged by her fiancé, a GTCC alum, she chose GTCC, drawn to its supportive environment and strong academic pathways.

That decision quickly proved to be the right one.

Returning to college after time away came with challenges, from adjusting to online learning platforms to balancing coursework with family responsibilities. But from the start, she found that GTCC’s faculty and staff were in her corner.

“When I first came back, it was hard,” Taylor said. “I didn’t know how to use Canvas or how everything worked. But the support here made a huge difference.”

One person who stood out early in her journey was Jean Kang, an advisor in the Early Childhood Education department at the Jamestown campus. Even after transitioning into the paralegal program, Taylor continued to check in regularly.

“I still go to the Jamestown campus once a week just to sit and talk with her,” Taylor said. “She motivated me to keep going and kept me inspired week by week.”

She also found strong encouragement from faculty within her program.

“Amanda possesses a rare and remarkable blend of intelligence, practical judgment, and relentless determination that she demonstrates in everything she undertakes,” said Teddi Carr, director and instructor of GTCC’s paralegal technology program. “I can’t wait to see where her educational journey takes her.”

Through that network of support, Taylor began to thrive academically. What started as a goal to simply pass her classes quickly transformed into something far greater.

“I never thought I’d be in an honor society and have a 4.0 GPA,” she said. “I just wanted to pass my classes.”

Taylor credits her success to the sense of community at GTCC, something she says she felt from the moment she arrived.

“Here, it feels like a family she said. “You can talk to your professors, ask questions, and really connect.”

Her approach to managing motherhood, coursework, an honors program, and a plan for law school comes down to a simple yet powerful mindset.

“I take everything task by task,” she said. “I focus on what’s in front of me and keep moving forward.”

This spring, Taylor will walk across the GTCC graduation stage, diploma in hand, ready for the next chapter. For anyone watching from the sidelines, wondering whether taking that first step toward college might be worth it, she has a message.

“Every big decision comes with fear and ‘what ifs,’” Taylor said. “But once you take that step, you realize this is a welcoming place, and there’s a support system here for anything you’re going through.”