Back to Bloomfield: Legacy, Choyce, and the Steps of Becoming

Walking across campus felt like stepping into a time capsule. In 2016, I graduated from Bloomfield College with a degree in Sociology and was honored with the Distinguished Sociologist Award. This campus was where I found my voice, where I studied feminism, and where I began shaping the work I now do in wellness, coaching, and community development.

Last week, I returned — not for me, but for my son, Choyce.

The photo says it all: him standing on the Admissions steps. For so many students, those steps are the beginning. It’s where they learn about the campus, envision their future, and take their first steps into higher education. For him, it was both symbolic and intentional.

I brought him here because legacy is about exposure. I want him to grow up seeing all the possibilities. Whether it’s Bloomfield, WashU (where I earned my MSW), or any other path, what matters most is that he knows he has choices. His name carries that reminder every day.

Legacy isn’t just what we leave behind — it’s what we expose our children to right now.

Memories That Shaped Me

Walking the campus brought back snapshots of my own journey. I remembered sitting in sociology classes where my professors challenged me to question systems, not just accept them. I remembered learning about feminism for the first time in an academic space, and how it gave me language for things I had always felt.

And then there was Professor Polakoff. I’ll never forget sitting in her office as she looked at me and said: “Higher education needs you. They need your voice. You shouldn’t just stop here.”

That encouragement planted a seed I didn’t even know was possible for me at the time. It’s what gave me the courage to pursue graduate school at Washington University in St. Louis and eventually earn my MSW. Her words became a core memory — proof that sometimes one person’s belief can redirect your entire path.

I remembered the late nights in the library, writing papers that stretched my thinking, and the mornings where I walked across the quad knowing that, little by little, I was becoming.

Bloomfield wasn’t just where I earned a degree. It was where I activated my voice.

“Bloomfield wasn’t just where I earned a degree. It was where I activated my voice.”

Looking Ahead

Choyce is only one and a half, but I believe it’s never too early to show our children spaces of possibility. Just like we’ve visited our local library and fire station, walking this campus was another seed planted — a reminder that the world is wide, and that his steps matter.

There’s also something special about Bloomfield itself. The recent partnership with Montclair State University has preserved the heart of this institution, and as an alum, I couldn’t be prouder. Bloomfield was a place that believed in me. It gave me not only a degree but the confidence to step into rooms, lead with purpose, and create change.

Now, years later, I find myself wanting to give back. Whether it’s through guest lectures, workshops, or simply showing up for the next generation of students, my goal is to pour back into the community that poured into me.

So yes, bringing Choyce to the Admissions steps was personal. But it was also legacy. Because when our children see us honor where we came from, they learn to walk boldly into where they’re going.

“Higher education needs you. They need your voice. You shouldn’t just stop here.” — Professor Polakoff

Thank you for evolving with me, always. — Ka’Cheena