Nicole Maloney’s college journey didn’t start at Wenatchee Valley College but that’s where it found a second wind and a supportive home. After the theater program at Seattle Central closed and the uncertainty of the pandemic loomed, Nicole faced a moment of doubt. “I really wanted to continue my education, but things got messy. I gave up on myself for a while,” she says. “Then I found WVC.”

What she discovered at WVC was more than just a school. It was a community that believed in her. With the encouragement of her professors and the strength of her own determination, Nicole earned her AA degree in 2023. One class in particular made a lasting impact. “Being in Professor Derek Sheffield’s class was transformative,” she says. “He picked one of my poems for the Earth Day eco poetry contest. That moment made me believe in myself as a writer. He was my Dumbledore.”

Since graduating, Nicole has returned home to refocus and ground herself in her writing. She’s now working on a collection of poetry and dreaming of publishing her first book. “The pandemic was hard, but WVC gave me the confidence to keep going,” she says. “Even subjects I once struggled with, like math and science, felt more manageable because of the patience and encouragement I received.”

Nicole’s story is a reminder that sometimes the path forward isn’t linear. She went on to share that “WVC taught me to be patient, to try again when things don’t go as planned. That lesson has stuck with me.”

For current students, she offers heartfelt advice: “Stay true to yourself and don’t sell out. Work hard, believe in what you’re doing, and remember—you never know who you’re inspiring by being your authentic self.”