COMPLETION
Members of the class of 2018 earned more than 1,500 different degrees, diplomas and certificates.
“Your graduation is not the end of your education, even if this is the last time you attend school,” said commencement speaker Susan Kluttz, former mayor of Salisbury and Secretary of Cultural Resources for the state of North Carolina. “It’s the beginning. Life itself is education.”
Kluttz talked about experiences during her tenure as mayor and how each taught her valuable life lessons.
“Some people say you shouldn’t set goals that you never will achieve because it may frustrate you, but I believe you should set goals the very highest you can,” said Kluttz. “Then you work as hard as you can to achieve them, and you celebrate each achievement you make, no matter how small.”
“Education is the best investment anyone can make,” said Dr. Carol S. Spalding, president of Rowan-Cabarrus Community College as she welcomed the class of 2018.
The class of 2018 was the 54th graduating class of Rowan-Cabarrus Community College.
Among the graduates was Liana Walker, president of the Student Government Association at Rowan-Cabarrus, who completed her associate degree and transferred to Appalachian State University to earn her bachelor’s degree in communications.
“Liana was elected by her peers as the 2017-2018 Student Government Association president. She has proudly represented Rowan-Cabarrus as a delegate at statewide student government conferences. As Student Government Association president, Liana’s goal has been to help students see that the possibilities are endless, no matter where they are in their academic journey,” said Patricia Fulcher, Rowan-Cabarrus Board of Trustees member, as she introduced Walker to the crowd.
“Celebrate your success although this may not be your end goal. Be proud of yourself because you are the image of someone else’s goal. Let me say this again… You are the image of someone else’s goal.”
Liana Walker
2017-2018 Student Government Association president
Walker told her fellow graduates that as they go on to pursue more education or into the workforce, she hopes they reflect on their time at Rowan-Cabarrus and how it helped them grow.
“For these past two years I have learned how to dance with fear, as I like to call it,” said Walker.
Walker shared how her self-doubt and fears were bigger than her dreams, which caused her to not go for opportunities because of the fear to take a leap of faith.
“If you don’t remember anything I’ve said today, I want to leave you with a few words that have helped me along my journey. Good. Better. Best. Never let it rest ’til your good is better and your better is best,” said Walker.