Throughout middle and high school, “school” became a word that struck fear in my heart. As a child I was labeled as a dyslexic who struggled with reading and writing. I was told I would amount to very little in life and that college was not for everyone. However, that mindset was challenged and slowly began to change.

At the age of 14, I joined the Civil Air Patrol, an auxiliary of the United States Air Force. While in the Civil Air Patrol, I learned the importance of discipline, hard work, and good communication skills. After high school, I started working full-time at a grocery store as a cashier in a town near Boone, N.C. After two years of working at the grocery store, I decided I wanted to take what the Civil Air Patrol had taught me and apply it to my education.

During the first few days of college, I was scared and unsure of what to expect, but soon realized “school” was not as scary as I had once believed. After looking back on my college experience, I know that choosing Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute was one of the best decisions I have ever made.

Attending CCC&TI has taught me that any life or academic challenge I face can be overcome and that achieving academic excellence is possible. The teachers at CCC&TI have instilled in me a love for learning and helping others grow. I currently have a 4.0 and I have no fear as I make plans for pursuing my bachelor’s degree.