Virginia Community College students wrapped up their visits to the General Assembly after eight weeks of “Every Day is Community College Day” sessions despite snow storms and budget debates.

Overwhelmingly, students who traveled to Richmond said it was an opportunity, and an honor.  Katherine Wallace, a sophomore at Southwest Virginia Community College, echoed others’ sentiments when she wrote that

“The opportunity to visit our state Capitol and represent our college was a fascinating experience. Being able to meet with our legislators, who have a direct impact on our educational system, gave me an insight into government that I did not have before. The fact that our legislators took time out of their busy schedules to listen to our person stories and concerns showed me that they care. The opportunity was an experience of a lifetime.”

Katherine was one of 400 or so community college students who traveled to Richmond with their peers, a few colleges a day throughout the session. Most had never visited before.

Johnathon Childress, currently enrolled at Patrick Henry Community College, told legislators he is starting a journey toward a medical career.

“My journey began roughly one year ago when I was laid-off from a company due to down-sizing. Immediately I knew that I was going back to school, and also knew exactly what field I would be pursuing. However, because I had been in the working world for four years, my best option was to attend a community college.

With financial responsibilities and the realization that I could not get into a four year university, my options were limited as far as furthering my educational dreams. Luckily I already resided in an area that has a community college, and could offer me all of the important ground work that I will need for my future endeavors at a reasonable financial cost. The decision for me was not hard to ponder.

My passion and interests has always lied within the realm of medicine; therefore, I had decided that I wanted to become a doctor in the field of medicine. I began Patrick Henry Community College as soon as I could; which was in March of last year. I started in a mini-semester that was initiated because of the mass lay-offs in our area. Since my start date, I have only gotten more determined and intrigued with the study of medicine and all of its linking counterparts. My plans are still as they were when I started, and I am following the guidelines to transfer to the University of Virginia under a Guaranteed Admissions Agreement.

Throughout my journey at Patrick Henry, I have met many astute, compassionate instructors and people. All are supportive of my ambitions and offer their assistance at any time for any need. One recent opportunity that I took part in was the “Every Day is Community College Day” in Richmond, Virginia at the General Assembly. We shared our personal stories and how beneficial the community college system has been to our personal educational success. The experience was one that I thoroughly enjoyed, and feel very gratified to know that I took part in. I met and spoke with Senator Robert Hurt, Senator Roscoe Reynolds, and Delegate Ward Armstrong, just to name a few. Our talks were sincere and informative.

I left feeling like our legislators do regard education with the utmost importance, and are exploring every avenue possible to ensure that educational attainment is available and possible for everyone.

Without community colleges, my dreams in the field of medicine would be at a standstill. Without community colleges many would not even attend college, and I am sure that the beginning of my arduous journey would not have gone as smoothly as it has. Thank You Patrick Henry Community College!!

Below are some additional photos from among the college visits.