(Top Row, left to right) Ishmael L. Ochir, Channel Clanton, Shaunea Brown, Carl Allen, Linda Boulton, (Lower row left to right) Timakia L. Hobbs, Rima Mecwan and Hyo Jin Park
I got an opportunity to meet with a very unique group of people. Ishmael L. Ochir (Olive-Harvey), Channel Clanton (Kennedy King), Shaunea Brown (Harold Washington), Carl Allen (Wilbur Wright), Linda Boulton (Daley), Timakia L. Hobbs (Student Trustee – Olive Harvey), Rima Mecwan ( Malcolm X) and Hyo Jin Park (Truman) are all this year’s City Colleges of Chicago’s Valedictorians that graced the stage this past Saturday afternoon. After a long journey for all these unique individuals they persevered and have obtained their associates degrees’ in a wide range of professions. Although this was a glorious day for these future bright stars, the journey was not an easy one.
Take Channel Clanton for example. She majored in Nursing at Kennedy King College, is married with four children and worked 12 hour shifts as a security manager. She had many doubts about whether she would even make it through college, due to lack of confidence and drive. Although Clanton struggled with so many duties on her plate, she gained motivation through a professor at Kennedy King College that said “My bar is set too high for you to fail now, and I’m not going to lower it because I know you can do this.” With those words, Clanton gained confidence in herself and really felt like she found who she really was as a woman. She has now obtained her AA degree with a 4.0 GPA and plans to enroll as a dual major at Robert Morris College of Health Sciences and Accounting in the fall. I asked each graduate to share some words of encouragement to the remaining class and shed some light on overcoming obstacles they may face. Channel’s words were, “Be the best you can be; perseverance and determination are two things that you need in order to succeed.”
Clanton isn’t the only one that had difficulty in the pursuit of happiness. Graduate Ishmael L. Ochir was born in Ghana with an interest in biomedical engineering but faced obstacles. Ochir had been in the United States for only two years before he decided to enroll in Olive-Harvey College along with his parents in order to gain a great education. He joined numerous organizations including Men of Distinction and became vice president of a health care student professional organization to be an inspiration to future students. Ochir has superseded all expectations for himself being from another country, and is proud of his 2 parents that also valued the idea of receiving a good education and followed his footsteps. Ochir looks forward to starting his biomedical engineering class at the Illinois Institute of Technology this fall. Ochir words of encouragement were, “Nobody can do it except you, and believe in yourself — the worst people around you can tell you is no.”
As a special guest, the valedictorians were in for a treat as chief operating officer of Facebook and author of the book Lean In for Graduates, Sheryl Sandberg shared some words of motivation. Sandberg’s book teaches students how to prepare for the world after graduation, by offering tips on finding a job, negotiating your salary and leaning in for women of color. The graduates were inspired by Sandberg’s book and uplifting words.
For valedictorian Shaunea Brown from Harold Washington College, who attempted college when she was 18 and dropped out because of the difficulty and petrified of failing at the time felt that Sandberg’s book really was an inspiration. Brown went back to college at the age of 30 and now feels unstoppable as she obtains her AA degree in Business. Brown became emotional as she states, “I never really saw myself successful.” Her words of encouragement to other students are to not let fear stop you.
Those words were also a turning point for valedictorian Hyo Jin Park, who attended Truman College and also studied Nursing. She felt that being born and raised in South Korea entering into the United States for the first time was already a difficult transition. But, somehow being raised by her mother, whose occupation was an English professor and father was a missionary, she felt an obligation to pursue her career as a registered nurse. She gained confidence from a student tutor, which helped her ability to obtain knowledge to effectively teach others. Park states, “Have hope and be a lifetime learner,” to the additional students.
Lastly, graduates Linda Boulton, Communications (Daley College), Rima Mecwan, Radiography (Malcolm X College) and Carl Allen, Journalism (Wilbur Wright College) all reflected on choices made while on college journey, having pride in their craft and surviving through make or break situations.
In all, these special graduates have overcome personal obstacles and are still moving forward. You can do the same. If you would like more information on enrolling into City Colleges of Chicago go to www.ccc.edu.
~dana williams
