Hallah Elder
As a first-generation college student, Hallah Elder of Melrose Park didn’t always view higher education as an achievable goal. A few years ago, while working long hours at a local hotel, she found herself increasingly unfulfilled.
“I was working a lot, and I think I was just feeling a bit lost,” she said. “I kept thinking, ‘What am I going to do — work here for the rest of my life?’ This can’t be what I’m doing forever.”
Determined to change her circumstances, Elder enrolled at Triton College to pursue a degree in special education. Looking back, she says the decision reshaped her future. It was at Triton where Elder found a renewed sense of purpose and built meaningful relationships with friends and mentors.
Elder graduated in May with an associate degree and is now working toward a bachelor’s degree in special education at Northeastern Illinois University, where she began classes this fall. She expects to complete her degree in 2028.
“I’m so happy that I came to Triton, and I feel like I came at exactly the right time because of the friends I made and the teachers I had,” she said.
She credits Triton College’s extensive support services — particularly Triumph and Surge, a student retention program — for helping her stay focused and persistent. The program provides academic support, one-on-one mentoring, career exploration and guidance for transferring to a four-year institution.
She called the Triumph and Surge team her “rock,” noting their role in helping her secure her spot at Northeastern.
“I really think Triton sets itself apart by the support it offers,” she said. “Being a first-generation college student was difficult to navigate, but the community here was very helpful in showing me which steps I needed to take and making me feel like I belong.”
The support she received also inspired her to help other students — assisting them with class registration, financial aid applications and getting involved in student organizations. Remembering her own early challenges, she said she wanted to ensure others did not feel alone.
Before she graduated, Elder served as president of Alphabet Soup, Triton’s LGBTQ+ club, which she named. In 2024, she received $10,000 as a recipient of the Lurie Children’s Young Professionals Scholarship Award, given to students who exhibit leadership skills and take initiative in achieving their goals.
Although she has moved on academically, Elder remains closely connected to the Triton community. She works in the Office of Student Life, staffing the front desk and serving as a co-adviser to the orientation leaders.
With an associate degree earned and clear goals ahead, Elder said she feels empowered to surge forward. After completing her studies, she hopes to teach in a local school and eventually move into an administrative role, possibly as a dean.
“My parents were so proud when I graduated from Triton,” she said. “Now I can’t wait to impress them even more.”