Student StoriesCelebrating our Graduates

When Emily walks across the stage to receive her diploma, she's sure to get emotional. More than 25 years after she passed on an education in nursing for a degree in social work, she's now realizing her dream of becoming a registered nurse.

But the diploma means more than simply being a piece of paper that hangs on a wall. Since she was 18, Emily has had the nursing profession at the top of her mind. But at every step, circumstances got in the way.

"I always wanted to go into nursing, but it was just not in the cards at the time," she said. "The program was so rigorous and so competitive. There was a wait list."

Now, at 46, Emily is doing what she's always wanted to do. And when she walks across that stage, and tears of pride well up in her eyes, she will have the support of her two daughters, her mother, a retired nurse, and her boyfriend in the audience. Still, she can't believe it's actually happening.

"I'm terrified. I'm excited. Now I have the life experience and confidence to do this."

–Emily, Nursing Program Graduate

Student StoriesCelebrating our Graduates

Sydney admits she didn't really know what she was getting into four years ago. The Prescott High School senior applied for and was chosen as one of two students in her district to enter the Chippewa Valley Technical College Business Management High School Academy.

Sydney will graduate from CVTC with an associate degree in Business Management a full semester before she graduates from high school.

"I'm not quite sure why I took it on," Sydney said with a laugh. "But I'm so glad I did it."

She said the classes she has taken at CVTC have given her greater experience in soft skills like writing and communication. For that, and the degree she's about to receive, she is thankful.

"I absolutely loved the Business Management program because it's a stepping stool," she said. "These classes have helped me write better essays and it has helped me be able to communicate with my teachers better. I learned so much through this program that I don't know where I'd be if I hadn't done it."

–Sydney, High School Academies Participant

Student StoriesCelebrating our Graduates

The joy that Justine exudes is palpable, but she will tell you that light wasn't always easily visible.

Growing up in a conservative religion with certain gender role expectations kept Justine confined to a figurative box for decades.

She will mark one more item off her journey of self-exploration when she graduates from Chippewa Valley Technical College with an Associate of Science degree by completing the University Transfer Liberal Arts program. The accomplishment is less about the degree and more about the journey.

As she looks to the future, writing and editing are her top choices for her career, but with her past life experience, she knows that even the most thought-out plans can easily be derailed. She is going to see where life takes her before making any long-term decisions.

Her commencement speech to her fellow graduates delivers some important life lessons.

"Life is scary," Justine said. "I want them to know that they're going to fail at times. They have to brush themselves off and realize that is part of life. Growth doesn't happen from success; it happens from failing. I have learned my biggest lessons from failing. And if you love something, you're going to succeed at it."

–Justine, University Transfer Program Participant