As a kid, Rochelly Mojica ’23, a Human Services and Community Justice major, dreamed of being the first in her family to go to college and graduating with a bachelor’s degree. With help from the CUNY Justice Academy (CJA), she’s making that dream a reality. “I wanted to be the first because I knew a college degree was the ticket to getting a good job and giving my family a better life,” says Mojica. “Being part of the CUNY Justice Academy has been life-changing for me. The program has given me a renewed sense of confidence in myself and paved a path for me to come to John Jay. With the support of my CJA advisors, I was fully prepared and excited to transition to the College. Coming to John Jay has always been a big goal for me. I love everything John Jay stands for—diversity, public service, and always fighting for justice on behalf of the underdog. I’m grateful to finally be here.”

Overcoming Hard Times
Growing up in Brooklyn, New York, life wasn’t easy for Mojica and her family. They faced financial difficulties and fell on hard times. “My mom was raising six kids all on her own. She was the only one working, and for a period of about three years we lived in the shelter system. We had to move from shelter to shelter at times, so it was tough for me to concentrate on my school work, even though I loved learning,” she says, recalling her childhood. After high school, Mojica put her college aspirations on hold and worked two jobs to help her family stay afloat. But despite the challenges life threw her way, she held on to her college dreams. “Our home situation only reinforced my desire to go to college, and my mom was just as committed to my dream as I was,” says Mojica. “After four years of working two jobs and helping my mom out, we were financially okay and I applied to a community college.”

Finding the CUNY Justice Academy
At LaGuardia Community College, Mojica was able reenter the classroom and immerse herself in an academic setting. “LaGuardia offered me the opportunity to dip my feet in the college world. After the four-year break between high school graduation and LaGuardia, I was nervous. It’s not easy to go back to school when you’ve been out for so long. I lost some confidence in myself and thought I wasn’t smart enough and that I wouldn’t understand what the professors were talking about,” she admits, “but the entire LaGuardia experience was great.” It was while at LaGuardia Mojica learned of the CUNY Justice Academy, a partnership program where the seven community colleges in the City University of New York (CUNY) system, support the transition of students to baccalaureate degree programs at John Jay. The program is among the most successful for transfer students at John Jay, with CJA students maintaining higher GPAs compared to transfer students at other CUNY senior colleges, and 63 percent of CJA students graduating with their bachelor’s degree in three years or less. “The CUNY Justice Academy is great because it creates a direct path for CUNY community college students majoring in Criminal Justice, Human Services, Forensic Science, Forensic Financial Accounting and Computer Science to earn their bachelor’s degree. When I realized the program would lead me straight to John Jay, I jumped at the chance to join.”

Transitioning to John Jay
Describing her transition to John Jay as “smooth,” Mojica credits the one-on-one advisement she’s received through the CUNY Justice Academy with helping her acclimate to the new academic environment. “Before classes even began, CJA & Transfer Programs Coordinator, Elena Rivera-Himmelstein, as well as my academic advisor, Betty Taylor-Leacock reached out to me because they wanted to set up a Zoom meeting. I came into the meeting a bit nervous. I was confused as to how many of my credits would transfer and what classes I should be taking. But, in just one Zoom call they managed to provide me with clarity, easing any fears I may have had. We were even able to map out what the next two years will look like in terms of courses, ensuring that I would graduate on time and within two years,” says Mojica. “The one-to-one advising and support from my CJA and academic advisor made my transition to John Jay so easy. That first meeting got me so excited for the College and all it had to offer.” Now a John Jay student, attending her classes has become a favorite part of her day according to Mojica. She’s passionate about justice, helping communities thrive, and providing rehabilitative services to individuals living with a mental illness. “All the classes that I’m taking are really great. I’m enjoying them so much and the College is everything I wanted and more,” says Mojica. “Among my favorite classes is Community-based Approaches to Justice. We’re exploring how if something affects one individual in a community, it can affect the whole community, and that idea is new to me. We’re also learning a lot about system-impacted people’s reentry into communities, and why it’s so important to have services available to them so they can transition successfully.”

Taking Control of her Future
When thinking about life after John Jay, Mojica is just as excited for her future. “After I graduate from John Jay, the plan is to earn my master’s degree and become a licensed mental health counselor,” she says, elaborating on why she wants to help folks living with mental health disorders or mental illness. “We need to destigmatize mental health in our society so that people that need help can seek out help without feeling shame. When my family and I lived in the shelter system, I was able to see how mental illness can lead people to do bad things. What people don’t realize is how a person’s mental illness can lead to those actions. We should be treating people who are mentally ill, offering them rehabilitative services, not putting them in prison.” Aside from her career aspirations, Mojica also has personal goals she kept top of mind, including inspiring her younger siblings to enroll in college—one sibling enrolled in community college this fall—and making her mother proud. “The CUNY Justice Academy helped make my John Jay dream come true, and I’m so grateful for the opportunity. It helps me secure a great future for myself, my siblings, and my mom. She’s my number one supporter and she’s cheered me on all the way and kept me on track. As long as I continue to make her proud, I’ll be happy.”