Mary Chavez, a 44-year-old native of Vancouver, recently celebrated a remarkable milestone by graduating from Clark College.
Chavez was one of 700 graduates who walked across the stage at the Cascades Amphitheater during the commencement ceremony held on a Wednesday.
Her journey to this achievement, however, was anything but straightforward, taking more than two decades to fulfill.
Reflecting on her experiences, Chavez remarked, “I have learned that I am more capable of doing hard things than I thought. If I put my mind to it, I can do it.”
Her academic path began on a rocky note when she dropped out of Evergreen High School early in her freshman year.
Struggling with school and feeling disconnected from her peers, Chavez decided to leave at a young age.
At age 20, she welcomed her first child, and five years later, she became a single mother.
Despite the challenges of single parenthood, she credits her supportive family, particularly her sister and mother, for helping her navigate those tough times.
Chavez found stability in her job at a Shell gas station in northeast Vancouver, where she worked for 21 years and eventually became a supervisor.
Recognizing her desire for more, she pursued her GED through night classes while maintaining her day job.
Although she wasn’t ready for college yet, her life took an unexpected turn with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Describing that period, Chavez said, “It was a nightmare.” She encountered increasingly aggressive customer behavior and experienced a personal assault from a partner.
This traumatic event became a catalyst for change in her life, as Chavez received the encouragement she needed to leave her job that had long been a source of stress.
In April 2023, she took the leap and quit her job, enrolling at Clark College just a few months later.
With a background in customer service and supervisory roles—but lacking computer skills—she determined that pursuing a degree in business was a suitable next step.
During her time at Clark, Chavez juggled a 17-hour-a-week work-study position while also cleaning houses to support herself as she attended classes online full-time.
Her dedication paid off as she eventually secured a full-time role at the front desk of Clark’s Human Resources department and later transitioned to the Teaching and Learning Center as an interim program specialist.
Chavez’s commitment to her education was unwavering; she didn’t take breaks from school or work, even during summer sessions.
“I just wanted to be done,” she stated. “That’s why you go to school: to make more money, to get a great job.”
Though she primarily attended online classes and didn’t have the typical campus experience, her academic success earned her a spot in the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society.
Chavez engaged more deeply with fellow students and formed a bond with an adviser, even taking on the role of vice president of scholarships for the honor society.
“PTK definitely helped me to venture out,” she confessed, acknowledging her previously quiet nature.
As she searches for office jobs related to her business administration degree, Chavez is keen on continuing her journey at Clark College due to the strong relationships and friendships she has developed there.
Notably, her own daughter, now 24, has also chosen a nontraditional path after graduating high school.
“I like being able to show her that you can still do it later and take that nontraditional route,” Chavez said with pride.
image source from：columbian
