Student Stories
Explore our Student Stories to discover the unique and inspiring journeys of Central Piedmont Community College students. Each narrative showcases how individuals have overcome challenges and achieved success.
Shenise Young
As Shenise Young stepped up to the podium to deliver her commencement speech, she did so not just as a graduate, but as a living embodiment of resilience. Her journey to the stage defies the traditional college narrative—one marked not by ease or privilege, but instead by detours, doubt, and sheer determination.
A teenage college student turned working mother, Shenise faced every reason to give up. Yet, with unwavering grit, she transformed setbacks into steppingstones. Her story isn't just about beating the odds—it’s about rewriting the narrative.
When Shenise first arrived at Central Piedmont, she was 16 and wide-eyed—a new high school graduate and determined to take on the world. She had big dreams and couldn’t wait to chase them. Having skipped a grade earlier in her education, she graduated as one of the youngest in her class. Unlike many of her peers, she immediately enrolled in summer courses, eager to begin her journey toward higher education.
But her path took a turn once she arrived. The journey ahead began to feel like a mountain she wasn’t sure she could climb. It wasn’t that she lacked capability, she just felt unprepared, and doubt slowly crept in through that open door.
At the same time, life outside of school grew increasingly difficult. Shenise faced personal challenges and ultimately decided to leave school. She began working full-time and, soon after, learned she was going to be a mother. From that moment on, Shenise’s no. 1 priority became her daughter. She did everything in her power to create a positive environment for her, despite her difficult circumstances.
And as long as we’ve got breath in our bodies, we still have an opportunity.
Facing New Challenges
The challenges kept coming, but Shenise rose to tackle each one.
“Despite how life had started to change for me, I still could be kind, I still could smile and be patient...waiting to be told I could be something else,” Shenise reflected.
She devoted herself to building the foundation of the life she wanted to live, pivoting from a role in healthcare to a new opportunity in finance. Along the way, Shenise discovered a love for accounting.
Despite finding a new career path, Shenise wasn’t fulfilled. As time went on, she contemplated returning to school. She had tried to return on several occasions, but it always ended in what she perceived as failure.
“Although I was in love with the idea of college and the life I could have on the other side of it, it simply didn’t love me back,” Shenise explained. “It demanded more and more of me, and more simply was something I did not have—or so I thought.”
Returning to Central Piedmont wasn’t easy— especially as a mother of two, a wife, and a full-time employee—but she faced her fears and did it anyway. Shenise returned with a 0.827 GPA—a far leap from the required 2.0 to graduate. However, she didn’t shy away from the task ahead. She dug deep and shouldered a workload many would find overwhelming.
“I kept working, I kept trying, I continued to get back up even though I consistently felt like life was pushing me back down on the ground,” Shenise said.
She challenged herself more than ever and persevered through it all, earning her spot on stage as commencement speaker. In the two semesters since her return, Shenise balanced 28 credit hours during both the fall and spring semesters, in addition to another nine between December and January—totaling 55 hours in just one year. She also joined the NC Scholars of Global Distinction program, adding more to her already full plate. The result? Her hard work paid off. Shenise walked across the graduation stage with a 2.96 GPA and two degrees: an associate in art and an associate in applied science in accounting and finance.
Though her journey wasn’t easy, Shenise’s story is a testament to how determination, hope, and compassion for oneself can help through even the toughest of circumstances. It’s never too late to write the rest of your story—because regardless of the journey, the destination matters most.
“See it through to the end and finish what you started. No matter how long it takes you. Because life is for the living,” Shenise shared. “And as long as we’ve got breath in our bodies, we still have an opportunity.”
With her sights set on an international accounting degree, Shenise is heading to North Carolina A&T with plans to pursue a career in forensic accounting and teaching community financial literacy. Proudly standing atop the mountain that once seemed too daunting to climb, Shenise leaves Central Piedmont with an unmatchable strength she forged from the trials she overcame.