The Tassel Was Worth the Hassle

Update: BRCC Commencement will be held at 12 noon on May 13 at  the JMU Convocation Center, 895 University Blvd., Harrisonburg, Virginia. For more info, please see the commencement webpage.

These graduates, along with a few hundred more, will be walking, and turning their tassels, May 13!

Charity Sloan

“I found that Blue Ridge was more than a community college, we are a family made up of people with all sorts of backgrounds, stories, all races, ages, and religions. I realized that I was a part of something much bigger than myself!

As students, we support, encourage, and inspire one another – through simple gestures like taking a new student to the bookstore, smiling and waving like a fool to others in campus hallways to lift spirits, or providing simple words to inspire hope such as “you’ve got this” or “you can do it”. We are a family that is determined to make each individual member better.

Each of us plays a part in making changes - hopefully positive ones - because we leave our marks on everyone we touch. We are the role models for the next generation of Blue Ridge students. For students who are also parents or who have younger brothers and sisters – those children look up to us and say, “if she can do it, so can I!”.

Chelsea White

“The most important thing that I learned in nursing school is to be an exceptional nurse, not just a mediocre one. Our instructors have held us to the highest of standards throughout our program because at the end of the day, our decisions will make the difference between life and death for our patients. For this reason, we must hold ourselves to the highest of standards as nurses and respect the responsibility that we carry.

I believe we have all started the journey to leading exceptional lives by graduating from Blue Ridge Community College. Education serves as an integral stepping stone in the process of building an exceptional life. We should strive to be unusually compassionate, unusually motivated, unusually dedicated, and unusually humble; just to name a few exceptional traits. My hope for each of you is that you will live an extraordinary life full of success, happiness, and unforgettable experiences.”

Matthew Heineck

“One good thing that came out of my failed attempts at college was a love of philosophy. I read several philosophy textbooks I had picked up from various places that got my gears turning and I took a Socratic approach to life but what really made me rethink my life was reading a book on ethics and morality called The Right Thing to Do. That was where I found the quote that would ultimately change my life. “You must be the change you wish to see in the world. –Mahatma Gandhi.” It was the one tiny anchor I had been looking for.

I took two classes in my first semester to get my feet wet and I decided that the best way to do this was to dive headlong into the campus itself. I did exactly that and for the past four years, I have done nothing but excel in my studies and in campus-related life. I’ve struggled with some things here and there but this has been a very different experience for me than my previous three attempts at college. I will graduate in May of 2017 with a 3.82 GPA from BRCC. I’ve been accepted into JMU as a general transfer student.

You never know where life is going to take you unless you find a path and walk it. You all have started your paths, now keep walking them. Keep your eyes open and your ears up, for you never know when all it will take to see an opportunity is for you to turn your head.”