Our Students’ Futures are Brighter, Better, Bolder Because of You!

Today’s topic is our students’ stories.

Over the past few weeks, I’ve had the honor of accompanying five NOVA Nighthawks—Andrew, Brionna, Emily, Mary and Rania—as they shared their stories with Senators and Representatives, both in D.C. and Richmond. I meet monthly via zoom with our student leaders, participate in town halls with students when I’m visiting our campuses and hold bimonthly office hour zooms for students across NOVA—plus, students regularly email me with questions, ideas and concerns. So, it’s fair to say that I hear many student voices, but having the chance to listen to our students speak in depth about their journeys led me to reflect on the common themes that emerged in these conversations. My guess is that they will be familiar to you:

• Affordability came up over and over. Whether paying out of pocket for tuition or receiving federal aid or military benefits, our students highlighted how NOVA’s affordability was essential to their ability to start and stay in school. Why affordability mattered also sheds a light on the diversity of the students we serve: one is an early high school graduate from a family of six, one is a new parent of a six month old—both struggled with the reality of college costs before finding NOVA. One began the college journey through NOVA dual enrollment classes offered free in high school. Their stories underscored the importance of including “equitable access to affordable and exceptional higher education and workforce programs” as part of our mission.
• Caring and accessible faculty and staff were at the heart of our students’ success stories. One used the metaphor of knocking on the doors of every college in the region and finding that NOVA’s was the only one that opened because of faculty and staff who took the time to listen and who cared enough to help find solutions. Another student, who lives outside of our service district, described how a faculty member worked to identify a paid internship near the student’s home to help the student balance work, life and college. A third shared how a faculty member saw the student’s drive and carved out space in the class for the student to challenge herself and grow. In listening, I was reminded of our NOVA values and how care, inclusion and respect are central to creating a sense of belonging that fosters learning and success.
• Each student also stressed the clear and real connection between attending NOVA and achieving longer term success. One student is in the ADVANCE pathway with George Mason University and talked about how the program took the uncertainty out of the transfer process and put the completion of a bachelor’s degree within reach. Another found employment in her field even before graduating, thanks to a NOVA job fair, and she has already moved up to supervise others. Several students shared their “big dreams,” which involved owning their own businesses, and they credited what they learned at NOVA with ensuring these dreams can become reality. Those entering careers directly after graduating all spoke about the immediate economic benefit of attending NOVA and how this economic mobility would change their lives. The students’ stories were real-world examples of our focus on “transforming the lives of our students and advancing opportunity in our community.”

At a college that serves over 70,000, one can never know the story of each individual student; and in the daily rush of your work, it is almost impossible to know deeply the hundreds of students you serve. So, today, I wanted to share how listening to Andrew, Brionna, Emily, Mary and Rania share their stories made me so proud of NOVA, so thankful to them, and so grateful for all of you. Their NOVA experiences are emblematic of the journeys of thousands. Their futures are brighter, better and bolder because of you—and our college is brighter, better and bolder because of them. The strength of our community’s shared commitment to putting our mission and values into practice makes the promise of opportunity real every day at NOVA: that’s inspiring excellence!

Anne