Manor Student Shayna Jones Turns Her Story Into a Calling

Shayna Jones (Tacony Academy, Philadelphia) is a rising sophomore at Manor College studying Business Administration.

Shayna Jones carries only a few memories of life before she was adopted – most of it is yelling and arguing. She was three when the adoption process began and five when it was completed, but the impact from her old life remains.

“When people raise their voices at me or get emotional, I used to recoil a bit,” Shayna said. “I hate being around people who argue a lot.”

Shayna found peace with Bonnie and Thomas Jones. The family became so close that when Bonnie and Thomas told Shayna she was adopted around the age of 12, she was surprised. After all, Bonnie and Shayna share many core beliefs. Shayna even says the pair look alike.

But Shayna, now a rising sophomore at Manor College, doesn’t just thank her adoptive parents for a peaceful life, they’re inspiring her hopes for a career in family law.

The thought began as a child with Thomas and Shayna often watching Judge Judy together. In high school, Shayna used to play a law-themed game on her iPad, which left her thinking, “I’m really good at this. Even if I’m not making arguments, I’m good at proving points.”

But, most importantly to her, the compulsion for a career in law stems from a desire to help those who need it most. Shayna remembers how Bonnie would cook barbecue and pasta meals for other children around Tacony. It was Bonnie’s way of giving and taking care of others. Shayna calls a career in family law her way of following in Bonnie’s inspiration.

“I hate being around people who argue a lot,” Jones said. “If I didn’t like it, other kids wouldn’t like that atmosphere. I want to be able to step in for kids who didn’t have what I had as a child going through this.”

Shayna found Manor College through a high school visit during her junior year of college. She knew what she wanted out of college – a small campus, opportunities to be engaged and a friendly atmosphere – and Manor checked all of them. Even before her first class, the vibes were right.

“Summer Bridge helped me find my whole friend group,” Shayna said. “I wasn’t nervous for college, but being able to have those people have my back when I needed it helped me a lot.”

While in her first year, Shayna immersed herself in Manor’s campus. She joined Manor’s Student Senate to be a positive voice for students, and will serve as a Presidential Ambassador for the 2026-27 academic year. Her involvement reflects back to a core belief she learned from Bonnie.

“When I first came to Manor, I appreciated how warm and open everyone was when I had questions and needed to find my way,” Shayne said. “I want to be involved on campus to grow my confidence and give back the same experience that I was given when I first came to Manor.”