Returning to school as an adult wasn’t easy, but it changed everything. After more than a decade away from school, Miranda Parks made the life-changing decision to earn her GED. What pushed her forward wasn’t just the dream of a better future; it was her son. She wanted to show him, by example, that it’s […]
Overcoming Life’s Challenges to Finish High School Makenzie’s high school journey was interrupted in 10th grade, right as the COVID-19 pandemic hit. At 16 years old, she worked 60-hour weeks while caring for her sick grandmother. With overwhelming responsibilities, school had to be put on hold. After her grandmother passed away, Makenzie—then just 17—found herself […]
Evie Lewis Finds Her Path to Helping Others At just 19 years old, Evie Lewis has already lived a story full of courage, perseverance, and hope. Now, as she prepares to transfer to Western Carolina University and begin a new chapter, she reflects on the journey that brought her here—and the people who helped along […]
Maycie Norman, a senior at Crest High and a CCC cosmetology student, is taking her talent for design from Shelby to the national stage—with hopes of heading to FIT in New York.
For Taejauna “Tae” Spearman, the road to a career in surgical technology wasn’t straight—it was a winding path filled with challenges, determination, and self-discovery. Now in the final stretch of Cleveland Community College’s Surgical Technology program, Tae is preparing to graduate in May with an Associate in Applied Science in Surgical Technology and an Associate […]
After proudly serving for three years in the U.S. Navy, Michael Williams returned to civilian life ready to build a stable career. When he was unexpectedly laid off from his job, he seized the opportunity to pursue a new path and enrolled in Cleveland Community College’s Associate in Applied Science in Information Technology Programming and […]
Jada Callahan, a 2024 graduate of Crest High School, found her passion in a class she took just for fun. Through the Career and College Promise (CCP) program, Jada registered for a Cosmetology class at Cleveland Community College without having to pay college tuition. The CCP program offers qualifying high school juniors and seniors the […]
Kaitlyn Sisk reminds us that we don’t have to stay on the same path for our entire career. If you are in a career that is not the best match for you, change your path. Staff and faculty at Cleveland Community College are here to help you! “My first career was dental assisting,” says Kaitlyn. […]
Brooke Porter is Cleveland Community College’s 2024 Academic Excellence Award winner. She graduated on May 9, 2024, with an Associate in Arts degree and a 4.0 GPA. She is transferring to Gardner-Webb University to earn her bachelor’s degree and then attend medical school. Ultimately, she wants to be a neurologist. “First, I want to thank […]
Taking the first step toward something new can be very intimidating. We may hesitate, even when we know we need to take that step so we can move forward with our lives. Many of us need encouragement or nudging from a friend or family member. In Kody Parker’s case it was his parents who did […]
Everyone who comes to CCC’s College and Career Readiness (CCR) offices has a story. Each story is different, but they all share one thing—they have experienced barriers that kept them from achieving a goal. Kenneth Humphries walked into CCC’s College and Career Readiness offices after years of struggling in school. “When I was younger, I […]
Meet Johnathan Walker, who made a life-changing decision to dive into the world of Information Technology at the age of 34. Before this decision, he worked various jobs from restaurant manager to construction worker and even ran his own business. Then, the pandemic hit and like many others, Johnathan was forced to reevaluate his career […]
