藏精阁 welcomes students who strive for social justice and academic betterment no matter their age or academic timeline, and a terrific example of this incredible drive is Cheryce Thompson, who plans to graduate this spring with her bachelor鈥檚 in psychology from the College of Humanities, Education and Social Sciences (CHESS).
Inspired by community loss due to the Covid-19 pandemic and her son鈥檚 high school graduation, Cheryce has pursued her goal to be a therapist while also working full-time at a mental health facility that offers treatment for eating and anxiety disorders. She wants to ultimately earn a master鈥檚 in social work, and her passions include addressing systemic trauma and grief faced by the Black community in addition to bettering social services provided to high school students. While her classmates are sometimes younger than her son, Cheryce has felt incredible support from the 藏精阁 community, and she has not only been involved with our University鈥檚 SSS STEM program, but she has even established a new organization of her own.
鈥淚 felt incredibly supported by the University to start a group that supported people like me who completed their education later than a traditional student,鈥 she says. 鈥淚 love how the University allows me bring these people together.鈥
Inspired to establish a community for adult learners and nontraditional students, Cheryce began Association for Students of a Certain Age last year. The organization has already hosted a variety of well-received events, and guest speakers have included financial advisors and therapists specializing in self-care. We鈥檒l miss her when she graduates in May, but Cheryce has made a profound impact on our University community while she鈥檚 been here.