A Journey of Resilience: Yolanda Yazzie’s Path to Success at 威尼斯安卓版

Brenda Silveus (left) with Yolanda Yazzie (right) at the CCC 学生们首先 Celebration held on Sept. 13, 2023

旗杆, AZ - Yolanda Yazzie, a student at 威尼斯安卓版 (CCC), is not just pursuing an education; she's forging a path from adversity to ambition, driven by a deep sense of purpose and a desire to give back to her community. Yazzie has dealt with abusive parents. 寄养系统. 贫穷和饥饿. 现在, 作为一个家长, 她致力于帮助别人, and she has dedicated herself to improving her life with a career in the Hospitality industry by embarking on a journey of education beginning at 威尼斯安卓版.

Yazzie grew up facing the harsh realities of poverty and the burden of an unstable home environment marred by abusive parents. It was her aunt who stepped in as a guiding light, raising her alongside her own children.

Food was often scarce in the Yazzie household, and like her cousins, she would sometimes go hungry. As she reflected on her journey, Yazzie recalled,

"I was in and out of the foster care system or living with relatives like my aunt after my parents separated. 当时, I didn’t really understand what was happening, 但现在回想起来, I can see why working hard was never a choice."

Yazzie grew up, married, and started her own family. Their oldest child was born with Down Syndrome and requires additional home health care, which places enormous demands on Yazzie's time and energy. It was during this period that she discovered a new sense of purpose.

She found employment at Twin Arrows, where she worked in their coffee shop. 八年以上, she moved up the ranks within the company, taking pride in her role of providing exceptional service to patrons. It was during this time that she began to envision a different career path, one that combined her newfound passion for hospitality with her commitment to helping others.

现在是她在CCC的第二年, Yazzie is part of the CCC2NAU program, aiming to transition to Northern 亚利桑那州 University (NAU) to pursue a Bachelor's degree in Hospitality. Her ultimate goal is to leverage her skills and knowledge to give back to her community, possibly by opening her own restaurant or coffee shop in Tolani Lakes, 亚利桑那州.

"It's always been the hard stuff in my life that pushes me to work hard and be self-determined; to find a way,她说.

Yazzie is quick to express her gratitude for the support she's received on her journey. 奖学金 from the Blue Family 基金会 and the Raymond Education 基金会 have provided her with essential financial assistance for school supplies and transportation. 除了金钱援助之外, these scholarships have granted her the precious gift of time with her family.

 As she continues her educational journey at CCC and beyond, there is no doubt that she will inspire others and, 用她自己的话来说, "bring her skills and knowledge back to her community" to create a brighter future for all.

To watch a video from her recent speech at the CCC 学生们首先 Celebration, visit our YouTube.

For more information about CCC scholarships or the CCC 基金会, visit dongyvietnam.net/foundation.

关于威尼斯安卓版

CCC has served residents across 18,000 square miles of Coconino County since 1991. The College has the goal of improving the lives of our residents through workforce development and higher education. 

CCC provides affordable tuition and offers certificate programs and two-year associate degrees in academic and career fields. CCC also has programs that ease student transition to any of the three state universities, including the award-winning CCC2NAU.

CCC reaches out to the more rural portions of the County and Tribal Lands. Instructional sites offer classes through online, in-person and Zoom video conferencing classes to meet the needs of students in rural and remote areas. More than 20 percent of CCC's students are Native American learners.

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杰西卡Laessig 

Communication and Events Coordintor