Pollyanna Campbell’s dream of becoming a registered nurse practitioner and ultimately running her own clinic for the indigent was put on hold 20 years ago when she abandoned full-time college for full-time motherhood.
Last month, she read her winning essay on “What Lone Star College Means to Me” at the Twelfth Annual Lone Star College Foundation Chancellor’s Breakfast held at Shirley Acres.
“With two children at home, ailing parents moving in, and a demanding job working as the healthcare coordinator at a school for special needs children, I wasn’t sure I could juggle all the hats I would have to wear and still be successful,” said Campbell. “However, the options that LSC-CyFair offers have made the difference.”
In her fourth semester at LSC-CyFair, Campbell is knocking out all her basics and nursing prerequisites attending class in the traditional way and via the internet and studying for exams chatting with classmates on Vista. A convenient community college campus also allows her to schedule classes that mesh with other demands on her time.
In addition, her interaction with much younger students makes for a great class dynamic, Campbell said. It’s allowed her to glean perspective from a different generation of students, which has made her take stock of her communication style as well as reenergized her thirst for knowledge.
“I’ve felt welcomed as an adult student and get the sense that the faculty and administration want my educational goals to be attainable and not a carrot dangling in front of me that I’ll never grasp,” she said.
Working diligently toward her goals, Campbell said she’s looking forward to the second act of her life with great anticipation.
“Pollyanna Campbell is exceptional student,” said Stacy Gresell, associate professor of speech. “She’s the kind of student who takes a very active role in the learning process … this kind of self-determination will take her far in life. She has a very bright future ahead of her and I couldn’t be more proud!”
Gresell was among the more than 150 LSC Foundation members, scholarship donors and attendees at the chancellor’s breakfast who heard Campbell’s life-changing story. Four other scholarship recipients read their essays including Tralisa Hallmark of LSC-Kingwood, Traci Campbell of LSC-Montgomery, Monique James of LSC-North Harris and Mistie Hernandez
of LSC-Tomball.
“Personally, hearing the essays always touches me,” said Fred Caldwell, chairman of the foundation board of directors. “It reinforces why we are here, why we give to the LSC Foundation and solidifies the purpose of the LSC Foundation.”
Last year, the LSC Foundation presented $1,000 scholarships to more than 160 students, and plans to award more than 200 in the coming year.
“Those scholarships are made possible by people who believe in the power of education to change lives,” said LSC Foundation Executive Director John Hooker.
For information on the LSC Foundation, go to lonestar.edu/foundation.