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.
Jae Taylor
Jae Taylor is an emergency medical sciences student with a passion for helping others and uplifting communities through paramedicine. Originally from Boston, Jae moved to Charlotte to be with family and pursue an education at Central Piedmont.
When choosing a school to begin their journey in emergency medicine, Jae took time to carefully research their options. With family already in Charlotte, Jae looked into local colleges and found that Central Piedmont stood out.
The strong connection between Central Piedmont and Mecklenburg County Emergency Medical Services caught Jae’s attention. Jae admired the agency’s reputation and the doors it opens for students. After seeing the program’s great outcomes for public safety graduates, Jae knew Central Piedmont was the right place to take the next step.
“I noticed [Mecklenburg County] Medic has opened its doors to help support and teach students at Central Piedmont, which results in a good relationship between those who are still learning and those who are working in the profession,” Jae said. “Everybody comes together to help serve the community.”
While earning their degree, Jae received the Merancas Technical Career Scholarship, which supports students in hands-on fields that lead directly to the work force. Beyond the classroom, Jae applies their training through clinicals and ride-alongs with Mecklenburg County first responders. These real-world experiences teach Jae how to support people during some of their hardest moments.
One instructor, John Cooper, made a lasting impact on Jae’s journey. His experience in emergency medical science helped Jae build valuable skills and grow confident in their career path. His open and welcoming teaching style continues to inspire Jae.
“I’m in a program where there are very experienced professors and instructors that I feel confident will help me grow the most in my career path,” Jae said.
I would love to have a lifelong career of helping people on their worst days.
Jae Taylor
Future Plans
Jae is on track to graduate in December 2026 and plans to start serving the community right away. With a goal to work in community paramedicine, Jae hopes to help people who struggle to access quality healthcare. Jae believes diversity in the first responder field is essential. Representation can help address the unique healthcare needs of different communities.
“I would love to have a lifelong career of helping people on their worst days,” Jae said. “It’s very important for the community to feel supported and have first responders to address their needs, and I hope to have a career where I can impact the community in that way.”
In the future, Jae hopes to return home to Boston and give back to the community that raised them. Whether in Charlotte or Boston, Jae’s mission stays the same: make medicine more accessible to everyone, no matter the challenges they face. With determination and heart, Jae is on a path to make a real difference—and Central Piedmont is just the beginning.
Chloe Mbongo never expected her biggest college lesson would be learning to give herself grace. A straight-A student in high school, she entered Central Piedmont in 2021 confident and ready to excel. But things didn’t go as planned— her courseload felt overwhelming, and she struggled to meet the high expectations she set for herself.
By spring of 2023, Chloe faced a tough realization: she didn't earn enough credits to graduate from Central Piedmont. She then had a choice to make—keep struggling alone or finally ask for help.
When Chloe finally talked to her friends and family, everything began to change. She saw that what worked for her in high school wasn’t enough in college. She needed to work harder and study differently. With help from her support system, she changed her habits, attitude, and goals.
“I became no longer interested in just passing but truly learning what was presented in front of me,” Chloe shared. “I came to realize that learning is not a chore, but a privilege.”
Chloe turned her failed classes into four semesters in a row on the President’s List. When she shared her story, she saw that it could help other students too. She didn’t run from fear—she faced it and emerged stronger than ever. Instead of letting it define her, she used it as motivation to build the future she wanted.
Failure either makes for a really sad sob story or a really powerful testimony of how you’ve overcome.
Future Plans
Chloe graduated with an associate in arts and is now transferring to UNC Charlotte to get her bachelor’s degree in communications. She also wants to earn a master's degree in Christian counseling at Southeastern Seminary. At graduation, she stood on stage and told her story to thousands of people—many who had faced similar struggles like she did—and showed them it’s possible to succeed.
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.
Inspired by a love for art and determined to seize every opportunity that comes her way, upcoming graduate Itala Flores has forged a remarkable path during her time at Central Piedmont. From showcasing her designs in Parr to speaking at academic conferences nationwide, Itala’s impact has reverberated throughout the campus community and across her academic field.
Originally from Caracas, Venezuela, Itala moved to North Carolina in 2004, fulfilling her lifelong dream of moving to the U.S. After marrying, starting a family, and enrolling in English classes at Central Piedmont, her husband’s love for oil painting inspired Itala to pursue her own artistic journey. The couple spent their free time exploring art, sparking her desire to pursue a degree. After attending Central Piedmont 20 years ago, Itala returned to tour the art facilities— and immediately realized she felt at home.
“I’ve been into art since I was a child. I love to work with clay; I love to work with my hands,” Itala recalled. “When I saw the studios for the first time, there was love there.”
She dove into learning, experimenting with ceramics, plastic, glass, and construction materials—across various art forms such as fashion design, sculpture, pottery, and more. She even invented her own pottery technique, a method she named “drypott.” Recently, she designed a dress made from promotional materials for the Truist Honors program, which was put on display in the library on Central Campus. She donated the piece to the college, so that it can remain a symbol of success for years to come.
Central Piedmont never let me go down.
An Accomplished Artist
In her time at Central Piedmont, Itala stayed busy, making her mark at the school. She hosted her first solo exhibition and fashion show, exhibited her work at the college’s public conference center, placed third in the Student Show, and received a few other awards for purchasing educational materials. Her debut metal sculpture was also selected to be in the 2025 Student Juror Show.
Itala’s success and involvement stemmed far beyond her artistic achievements. She participated in the Truist Honors program, joined the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, and served as both a student ambassador and an ambassador for the Central Piedmont Foundation. She received the Levine Scholarship, the Kappy McClenaghan Scholarship, and the Board of Trustees Endowed Scholarship. She credits much of her success to mentors she met through these programs, like Dr. Deninne Pritchett and Admissions Director Darrien Page, as well as the many scholarships that supported her along the way.
“The budget has been one of the challenges, but Central Piedmont never let me go down. Always,” she said. “Even at the last minute, Central Piedmont has always helped me with a scholarship, and that was a blessing."
Outside of Central Piedmont, Itala’s artistic career gained momentum in 2017, when she participated in the Art Pop Street Gallery, followed by an invitation to showcase her sustainable designs at Charlotte Fashion Week. From that moment forward, opportunities poured in – from invitations to both Charleston and Paris Fashion Week to collaborations with Team Topher and Opera Carolina. In 2020, she was named Emerging Artist of the Year by Art Si, and in 2021, she received the Hispanic Pride Award from Progreso Hispano. And that’s only a glimpse of what Itala has accomplished.
Today, Itala continues to focus on sustainable fashion, and she dreams of opening her own gallery and studio. Her next step is to complete her bachelor’s in fine art— she has been accepted to Winthrop University for the fall and awarded a $16,000 scholarship.
Her story is far from over, and it serves as a powerful reminder that with passion and determination, every student can forge their own path—supported by the faculty and mentors who champion them every step of the way. At Central Piedmont, no two students are alike, which is why we meet you where you are—to help you get where you dream of going.
Faith Blom’s story is one of resilience, determination, and the power of finding the right support system. A horticulture technology student at Central Piedmont, she’s not just chasing a career—she’s chasing a lifelong dream.
Since childhood, Faith has been captivated by the mysteries of space. She always knew she wanted to work for NASA, but it wasn’t until she discovered plant science that she found her true passion. Now, she’s pursuing an associate degree in horticulture, knowing it will give her a competitive edge as she works toward a bachelor’s degree and, ultimately, a career in astrobiology.
Getting to this point hasn’t been easy. Faith lives with Type 1 diabetes, and finances have always been tight for her family. Receiving the Campbell Horticulture Scholarship and Truist Honors Scholarship changed everything. “Having a disease like this while also trying to pursue my dreams is difficult, but these scholarships removed my financial burden and gave me the freedom to be a full-time learner” she said.
Before coming to Central Piedmont, Faith attended two other institutions—both of which left her drained and disheartened. She felt like she had wasted time, like the system wasn’t built for her to succeed. However, knowing her parents were Central Piedmont alumni, she decided to take a chance.
That choice changed everything. The sense of community, the support from faculty, and the opportunities available to her made all the difference. What once felt like a dead end became a fresh start.
As a woman in STEM, she has faced her share of discouragement, often feeling underestimated in male-dominated spaces. But she refuses to let that define her. She hopes to inspire others—especially young women—to pursue their passions fearlessly. “Just because you’re a certain gender or race doesn’t take away your possibility to do incredible things,” she said.
Recently, Faith had the opportunity to interview for a NASA internship and connect with professionals in the astrobiology community. While she wasn’t selected this time, she sees it as a steppingstone, a sign that she’s on the right path. The knowledge, experiences, and connections she’s gained at Central Piedmont have already opened doors she never imagined.
One of the biggest influences on her journey has been Dr. Pritchett, faculty director of Central Piedmont’s Truist Honors Program. Having that kind of guidance and support, Faith said, has been monumental in her growth.
With every challenge she’s faced, Faith has proven that perseverance pays off. She’s determined to make her way to NASA, and with her passion and drive, there’s no doubt she will. For now, she’s embracing the journey—one step, one opportunity, and one dream at a time.
When Veronica Silva Romero arrived in the United States nearly two years ago, she faced an uncertain future. She had left Ecuador, the country where she had lived for most of her life and found herself in a new place with many challenges ahead.
The barriers were daunting—financial struggles, a new language, and an unfamiliar education system. But through determination and the right opportunities, she has transformed her life in ways she never imagined.
"At first, I had no plans to continue my education after high school," Veronica shares. "My economic situation was difficult, and college seemed out of reach. But the Opportunity Scholarship changed everything. It allowed me to achieve my goals and pursue my education."
Veronica's journey at Central Piedmont began in November 2023 as a dual enrollment student. At that time, she was still finishing high school and uncertain about her future. The thought of college seemed unrealistic—not only because of financial difficulties, but also because English was not her first language. However, Central Piedmont provided her with invaluable resources to improve her English skills daily. "Now I can proudly say that I am bilingual," she says with a smile.
In the summer of 2024, she graduated from high school, and just one month later, she received the Opportunity Scholarship—a full scholarship that changed the trajectory of her life. "My heart was filled with joy, and my family was so proud of me," she recalls. "Everything started to get better from that moment."
Adjusting to college life was challenging, especially studying in a language that was not her own. "It requires double the effort, but I face it every day with dedication and determination," she says.
Central Piedmont has not only provided her with an education but also opened doors to experiences she never thought possible. In November 2024, she had the opportunity to attend a conference in Los Angeles—an experience that broadened her perspective and reaffirmed her dreams.
Throughout her journey, Veronica has received guidance and support from many mentors, including Kelly Herman and Dakayla Little, Central Piedmont career counselors whose encouragement through mentoring and coaching has been invaluable. Kelly and Dakayla’s support has played a key role in helping Veronica navigate the challenges of college and adjust to life in a new country.
"Central Piedmont has been there for me every step of the way," Veronica says. "It has given me opportunities beyond the classroom—education, resources, people, and even travel."
Now, as she continues her journey, Veronica is filled with gratitude and excitement for the future. "I am so happy to be a student at this prestigious institution. My story is proof that with perseverance and the right opportunities, anything is possible."
She hopes to graduate in Spring 2026 with her Associate in Arts in Communications and then transfer to UNC Charlotte.