La Vera Hutchinson will graduate from College of Western Idaho (CWI) on May 13, 2017. During her time at CWI, she not only gained an education, but discovered what matters most along the way.
After a divorce in her 20s, Hutchinson struggled to determine where she needed to be in life as a single mother of two daughters. In 2006, she earned a certificate in medical assisting from a career institute in Portland, Oregon, and spent the next several years pursuing a career as a medical assistant.
Hutchinson moved to Idaho in 2010 after reconnecting with her high school sweetheart, Kenneth. She continued working as a medical assistant, but unhappiness eventually surfaced, and Hutchinson found herself wanting more. With encouragement and support from her now husband, she decided it was time for a change.
“I could see it in her eyes…she wasn’t happy,” Kenneth recalled. “Life is too short to be unhappy. I wanted her to fulfill her dreams.”
In 2013, Hutchinson enrolled in classes at CWI in pursuit of her 20-year old dream to become a nurse. With the help of financial aid and a CWI scholarship to pay for tuition and books, she was able to quit her job and focus completely on school. For her, the hardest part of going back was taking that first step as she was not sure what to expect, but the feelings of accomplishment and lifelong relationships built along the way are what Hutchinson says made the journey worth it.
“Every time a test or exam would come back and she did great on it," her husband said, “the excitement and thrill is what all the studying and hard work was for…a feeling you aren’t going to get doing anything else.”
Fall semester of 2016 brought Hutchinson what she calls a “life check-out”. Maintaining a high GPA and facing stiff competition for acceptance into the Nursing Program had proven to be quite a stressful endeavor. Although she was enjoying school, her dream of becoming a nurse was becoming less and less the focus and she realized her true dream was to pursue a college education and earn a degree.
It was during this reality check she discovered how much she needed her family, as they were the most important thing in her life. Because of this, she chose to take a different route with her education. Rather than giving up all together, she decided to adjust her degree pursuit and focus on graduation. A week after finals that semester, Hutchinson learned her mom was terminally ill with cancer.
“Things happen for a reason...I checked out for a reason,” she said.
Hutchinson will graduate with honors and an Associate of Arts Degree in Liberal Arts. She is the first college graduate in her family. Although her original dream of becoming a registered nurse did not become a reality, she says her education has greatly benefited her life and is something her girls look up to her for.
“It’s a big, big accomplishment,” she said, “something I know my mom has waited for my whole life and I never thought I would do…that degree is going to look GREAT on my wall!"
Her advice for anyone considering going back to college is simple: “If you’re going to do it, then do it!" To Hutchinson, completing her education and earning a degree represents hours of hard work, dedication, and perseverance. The time she spent at CWI will always be a valuable and significant part of her life, no matter what happens after graduation.
Hutchinson says post-graduation she is looking forward to having time to do what she wants...garden, be creative, renovate a travel trailer, and “become a hippie”. First and foremost, she cannot wait to spend more time with her “tribe”.
