Behind every statistic is a student with a story. Click the photo of the student for their full story. Click on the statistic for its source and a fuller explanation.
“I always knew I wanted to be a doctor, but watching nurses care for patients up close made me think differently. They’re the heart of healthcare.”
— Komi Gagnon “Elvis” Kassa
Florence-Darlington Technical College, SC
“I wanted to become the person who could stand between cyber criminals and the people who don’t know how to defend against them. That’s still what drives me.”
— Scott Cochran
Washtenaw Community College, MI
“A lot of my personal beliefs align with what nurses do every day — empathy, compassion and service. Those are the three pillars that really led me toward nursing.”
— Annaleis Sloan
Miles Community College, MT
“I’ve grown a lot – in knowledge, in experience and in meeting so many people. I’m still experimenting with my abilities and discovering new ones.”
— Caleb Sierra
Springfield Technical Community College, VA
“I never felt out of place because it’s so diverse — different ages, different backgrounds. And honestly, the resources and access to flexible class schedules and online courses helped me stay in school.”
— Angelique Wallace
Salt Lake Community College, UT
“My instructors and the support staff have always been helpful, understanding, and willing to help whenever I had questions or needed guidance.”
— Sanjay White
Barton Community College, KS
“I have not been nearly as stressed from a mental stand point… as well as a financial standpoint. It has been a big weight off.”
— Kaleigh Poff
Northeast State Community College, TN
“Curiosity is the driving force behind human initiative and innovation. We are the future, and I’m excited for the future our curiosity will build.”
— Josh Bowe
Chippewa Valley Technical College, WI
“I thought, ‘I’m almost 50. What am I doing?’ I realized that this is the do-over time of my life. … I just want my kids to see me happy.”
— Rebekah Gonzalez
San Jacinto College, CA
