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...As Christy Haselgrove prepares to graduate from Coosa Valley Technical College, she recalls the things that helped her get through school while raising a young child on her own.
“My faith is the only reason I made it through. I don’t think I’m extremely smart and don’t usually get good grades, but I feel the Lord has me doing this for a reason,” she said. “I have a 3.9 GPA, and that, to me, is a miracle in itself.”
The Florida native moved here in 2005 specifically to participate in Coosa Valley Technical College’s echocardiography program. The former Marine Corps member wanted to use her GI Bill after becoming interested in the field.
“My aunt was a nuclear tech and works for a cardiologist, and I went with her and talked to an echo tech that worked there and watched her,” she said. “I thought this is really cool — I can do this, so I started researching schools.&
Ronald Jackson, commissioner of the Technical College System of Georgia, will speak to graduates. |
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She said the school locally in Florida had a long waiting list, so she went looking elsewhere for an accredited program.
So Haselgrove picked up and left with her then 2-year-old son for Rome.
“I knew absolutely no one here, but I go to church at West Rome Baptist, and my son goes to school at Unity Christian,” she said. “The Lord blessed me by sending those people.”
She said the program was very intense and challenging, especially for someone without a medical background. (She did air traffic control in the Marine Corps.)
“It was hard at first, but the Lord saw me through it,” she said. “I’m excited to be complete but nervous about my first job, though I think I’m very well prepared.”
Haselgrove said she plans to look for a job while her son finishes his kindergarten year at Unity.
“I’d like to move back closer to my family,” she said, “but I’ll go wherever the Lord leads me. My son wants Florida, and I tell him if Jesus leads us to live in Florida, we’ll go, but if Jesus tells us to live in South Africa, we’ll live in Africa.”
She said her son has been as supportive as youngsters can be, always asking when she’ll be done studying.
“I just tell him school is his job, and for now, mine is to be in school,” she said. “He’s good and lets me study.”
Haselgrove’s family is expected to come to today’s graduation ceremony and for Easter weekend. The ceremony will be held today at 7 p.m. at The Forum.
Click here for a complete list of Spring 2008 graduates.
Ronald Jackson set to address CVTC graduates
Coosa Valley Technical College will hold commencement ceremonies at 7 p.m. today at The Forum.
The special guest speaker will be Ronald Jackson, commissioner of the Technical College System of Georgia. Jackson has been commissioner since February.
He also has worked in the Governor’s Office of Planning and Budget, the State Olympic Law Enforcement Command and the Georgia State Board of Pardons and Paroles.
Also participating in the graduation program will be Derrick Wade, Coosa Valley Tech’s recent GOAL award winner.
