Golden moments for graduates

Mary A. Castillo

Golden West College graduates, Eric O’Connell, 39 and Helen Le, 21 now

have one thing in common after commencement last Friday. Together with

704 graduates, they received associates degrees and the satisfaction of a

job well done.

“The Class of 2002 is made up of people with all kinds of

circumstances,” said Kenneth Yglesias, president of the college. “You

have students right out of high school and people like Eric who come with

life experience.”

For many students, they persevere in spite of physical challenges,

lack of financial funds and family conflicts, said Yglesias. When

students don the robe and mortarboard cap, their achievement is

inspiring.

“It’s unbelievable,” O’Connell said. “I looked at all the people I

studied with and felt mixed emotions because it’s an ending and a

beginning.”

For O’Connell, commencement ended a three-year journey that began in

Boston after his divorce. He came out to California looking for a big

change and he found it when he enrolled in the nursing program at Golden

West in 2000.

“Like most nurses and nursing students, I have a need to make a

difference,” he said.

But O’Connell didn’t wait till he had his degree to start making a

difference. Immediately he jumped into an active role with the Golden

West Nursing Student Assn. and with the honors society, Alpha Gamma

Sigma. He not only took time to tutor his fellow students but also

represented them on the Faculty Curriculum Committee, he said.

That hard work earned him a position as a critical care nurse at the

University Medical Center in Fresno. But most shocking for O’Connell, was

that he also earned the R. Dudley Boyce Outstanding Student Award, the

College’s highest honor to a graduating student.

“I was shocked and thrilled to know that a committee selected me out

of all the other students,” he said. “It’s humbling to know that I made

enough of a difference.”

Commencement for business graduate, Helen Le gave her the chance to

see how much of a difference her education made inside of her.

“I changed my priorities and matured a lot,” said Le, a single mom to

her 2-year-old son, Phillip. “I used to think money was really important

but now I realize you have to do what you love.”

With the help of Pell grants, EOP financial aid and scholarships, Le

not only graduated with a 3.3 grade-point average, but also with a

healthy belief that she has what it takes to accomplish her career goals.

“I’d like to open a day-care or possibly go into counseling,” she

said.

For now, Le will get started on her bachelor’s degree at Cal State

Fullerton this summer. She knows that there’s a long road ahead,

especially when her son likes to play while she studies.

“It’s important to give him an example that education is important,”

she said. “I not only want a better life for myself, but for him

especially.”