It Was My Turn: How RCC Helped One Mom Lead by Example
For years, LaToya Bea Bunns talked about going back to school. With five children, a career, family responsibilities and the many demands of everyday life, there always seemed to be a reason to put that dream on hold. But after the death of her husband in 2023, her children decided it was time for a change.
For Christmas that year, they gave their mom a collection of Rappahannock Community College swag and information about the college, with help from RCC Navigator Krista Hundley.
Their message was simple: They had watched their mom support them through their own educational journeys. Now, it was her turn.
“I had supported them while they got multiple degrees, and they told me it was my turn now,” she said.
So, at age 46, she became an RCC student.
“I knew that my expectations for them were always high, and I needed to follow the same rules,” she said. “I apologized to them the first week because I was like, ‘How did you guys work, play multiple sports, be involved, go to church, volunteer and make good grades while doing this in high school?’”
Her children, she said, were proud of her. They celebrated her accomplishments and reminded her not to be too hard on herself when things became difficult. “For once, I was leading by the example that I set for them.”
Returning to school wasn't easy, “There were so many obstacles before attending RCC—my health, the death of my husband, personal things that my own kids were dealing with, raising kids and working,” she said. “I no longer had free time.”
Her family quickly learned that weekends belonged to homework and that her laptop went wherever she went.
She credits her family, friends and the RCC community with helping her succeed. Her psychology coursework also gave her an unexpected way to connect her education to her own life. “I loved that I was able to bring my life to light while studying,” she said.
And then there was Krista Hundley. “My navigator Krista Hundley is one of my best friends,” she said. “When I was unsure, she led the way and knew the classes that I would like.”
Hundley was just one of many people who made an impact during her time at RCC. Several of her instructors had taught her children at Northumberland High School, the Chesapeake Bay Governor’s School or RCC, while others were people she already knew through the community.
“The community in RCC is exactly what it means—community,” she said.
She remembers the encouragement she received from instructors and the impact their feedback had on her.
“I took so much from my instructors with their feedback, encouragement, and just knowing that they were there for me.”
Academics were only part of her RCC experience. At New Student Orientation, she joined TRiO Student Support Services (SSS) and CHAMPS (Career Help and Mentoring for Parenting Students), opportunities that became some of the most meaningful parts of her college journey.
She became a CHAMPS officer, participated in SSS and served on the Virginia Community College System Advisory Panel. She was also selected to speak at The New Horizons Conference. “I embraced every opportunity I could while attending RCC,” she said.
“There is guilt when parents do things for themselves, even when it is in the best interest of the entire family,” she said. “I love that CHAMPS is there as a great resource for parents.”
She also saw firsthand how SSS can help students overcome barriers that extend beyond the classroom. “SSS provides amazing opportunities to so many that need extra support, academic help, and just understanding life,” she said. “It helps with life lessons and allows students to experience things they financially may not be able to, opening their eyes to new things.” Those experiences helped her realize that being a nontraditional student didn't mean she was on her own.
Each semester brought strong grades, and she was inducted into Phi Theta Kappa. In May 2026, at age 48, she graduated from RCC Summa Cum Laude with an associate degree in psychology.
“Every class made me want to learn more and try to find a way to connect it to what I am studying or want to do with my degree,” she said. More importantly, RCC gave her something she didn't realize she was missing: confidence. “I learned that I could do this,” she said. “RCC was my foundation and made me stronger.”
This fall, she is continuing her education at Old Dominion University, where she plans to major in psychology. She is even considering adding another major and a minor. “I just want to learn everything,” she said.
For her, RCC wasn't simply a place to earn a degree. It was the beginning of a new chapter.
“I waited to take this journey because I did not think that I could do it alone, when in fact I was never alone,” she said. Even though she has graduated, she knows the connections she made at RCC will remain.
Today, she is the Development Coordinator for The Haven Shelter and Services, a position she has held for five years. She also carries the lessons she learned at RCC into her work, family and next academic chapter.
Her advice to anyone considering community college is straightforward: “Do it! Take this opportunity to do something for yourself.”
She encourages prospective students to attend New Student Orientation, get involved and take advantage of the resources available to them.
“Do not let your age, the fact that you're an online student, or anything else stop you from making this a wonderful experience,” she said. “This is your race and take all the time you need—whether it is one class at a time or going full-time. Make the decision that works for you.”
“People assume that community college is not on the same level as four-year universities, or that it is easier,” she said. “But it is a great foundation for nontraditional students, young students, or those who are still figuring it out.”
For her, that foundation opened the door to something she had wanted for years. “I am taking so much with me on my new journey.”