Roberta-Lynn-Mohameds-50-Year-Journey-at-RVC.php

Roberta Lynn Mohamed's 50-Year Journey at RVC

• Students
• 06/03/2025

For over 50 years, Roberta ‘Lynn’ Mohamed has been a familiar presence at Rock Valley College. Her first experience on campus was as a young mother looking to learn practical skills, and today, as a proud graduate receiving her Associate of Arts degree.

Her lifelong journey at RVC reflects the true spirit of community education.

Lynn grew up in a working-class family of six children. Her father worked as a lathe operator for 35 years, and her mother, a homemaker, became a school custodian after Lynn graduated high school. Though she was often on the honor roll, a high school counselor told her she wasn’t “college material,” and she believed him. Lynn became a homemaker and had two children by age 19. But she grew restless and took a job at Shakey’s Pizza. When she asked about becoming a manager, she was told women didn’t lead there. So, she left—and began a 35-year career with the U.S. Postal Service.

After a few years at the post office, Lynn bought her first car—an AMC Pacer. Inspired by her father, she wanted to learn how to maintain it herself. In 1975, Roberta enrolled in auto mechanics, her first class at RVC. Over the years, Lynn returned to RVC several times, seeking to learn skills that propelled her professional growth. She took a typing class on an electric typewriter to pursue secretarial work and later enrolled in accounting, management, and computer programming classes. She even wrote a vehicle maintenance scheduling program used by the postal service thanks to her training at RVC.

Lynn eventually became Postmaster of Poplar Grove and retired at age 54. But retirement didn’t suit her. Wanting a more people-focused role, she applied to be a paraprofessional in the Harlem School District. Unsure what the job entailed, she turned once again to RVC. She completed the Teacher's Aide with ParaPro Prep course through the college’s continuing education program and went on to enjoy a 12-year career supporting special needs students.

When Lynn retired again, she decided it was finally time to pursue her academic degree. With help from her daughter Magda, she re-enrolled at Rock Valley, taking just two classes per semester. Though she had taken dozens of electives over the decades, she still had many core requirements to meet.

One challenge made her academic journey even more remarkable: Lynn is legally blind. Initially unsure if she could succeed, she found support through RVC’s Disability Support Services. Fred Williams helped her access audiobooks, and advisor Lamis Diab ensured she had the equipment she needed—like a large monitor at home to complete a required math class. Thanks to their dedication, Lynn was able to keep up and thrive.

Throughout her studies, Lynn’s professors were patient and welcoming, accommodating her needs and encouraging her questions. Despite being decades older than most of her classmates, she never felt out of place. She often found herself learning from younger students—and making them laugh, like the time a professor had to explain who Bruce Willis was.

Psychology professor Erin Fisher thought Roberta (Lynn) was a dream to have in class.  "She was attentive, asked the BEST questions, and brought a lot of humor but also a tremendous amount of insight into our class discussions," said Erin. "Her work on the writing assignments was impeccable—it was always obvious that she took the assignments seriously and treated the process with respect. What I mean is that she VALUED the experience of the assignment.  That is a sign of a true scholar!"

RVC has not only shaped Lynn’s life, but also her family’s. Her children Melvin, Monica, and Magda—and her grandchildren, David and Dora, have all attended Rock Valley. Lynn’s journey stands as a powerful example of what it means to be a lifelong learner and how a community college can truly become part of a family’s legacy.

After 50 years of personal growth, career advancement, and community involvement through Rock Valley College, Lynn Mohamed is proud to cross the stage as a graduate. Her story reminds us: it’s never too late to learn, to grow, and to become a Golden Eagle.