Snapshot Profile: Arturowe Robinson

By John Santora
Staff Writer

Photograph courtesy of Arturowe Robinson

Arturowe Robinson, a 41-year-old student currently taking five classes and working 15 hours a week as a student worker in the Behavioral and Social Science Department, has a distinction that most of us do not and would not want to have. Arturowe Robinson was convicted of a felony and served 21 months in prison.

What inspires Robinson to work so hard? “Once I have a degree I will be more marketable. After some time has passed, since I was incarcerated and it is obvious from my accomplishments that I have turned my life around, I’ll be able to put my skills to work.”

Robinson hopes to someday start a youth career center or halfway house to help people who have been incarcerated. “I want to be a role model for other people who feel that they can’t achieve success in school or with their work. There are Pell grants and programs available, all the way to a four year degree.”

Robinson met a friend who was attending college and it served as an inspiration to him. Starting immediately from the time of his release in early 2008, he has been attending HCC full time and majoring in General Studies. His immediate goal is to graduate in May with an Associates degree in Science as well as a certificate in Behavioral Healthcare. From there he would like to continue on to a four-year college.

One of the pressures on Robinson is to be able to provide child support for his two children after all of his bills are paid on a 15-hour-a-week salary. “When it comes to child support, the system doesn’t care about attending college to better yourself. It seems like they would prefer I work a low paying job without a future just to make sure I pay the bill.”

When asked he had any praise or complaints about Housatonic Community College, without hesitation Robinson said: “I love Housatonic. It has been a life saver for me.”