BCC Grads Urged To Find Their 'Passion'
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| BCC graduate Melani Mielke, 41, is pursuing a career in law enforcement.
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Born almost completely blind and hearing impaired from a young age, the Pittsfield High School alumnae was just one of 294 students receiving 302 degrees and certificates this year but for Wheelock, graduation meant overcoming one major life obstacle.
"I believe in taking steps," Wheelock, 23, said. "I feel like I'm better off going on steppingstones. I don't want to take big leaps and make a mistake, so for me this is taking another step."
Wheelock received her associate's degree in liberal arts and plans to go on to study elementary education at the University of Massachusetts — Amherst in the fall.
"Even with my disabilities, I shouldn't be stopped from pursuing my dreams," she said. "I'm happy about graduating, happy about going on to elementary education and happy about moving forward."
Wheelock's is just one BCC success story and, as President Paul E. Raverta said in his opening remarks, the personal stories are as "interesting and diverse" as the individual graduates.
"Each student has faced the challenges of a rigorous academic program, external work responsibilities, family commitments, financial pressures and more. They are the pride of BCC, the promise of Berkshire County and the story of America," Raverta said.
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The message to the class of 2008, from the lips of legislators Sen. Benjamin B. Downing and Rep. William "Smitty" Pignatelli, valedictorian Laura Saldarini and alumni speaker Emily Nichols, was to find their passion. "I challenge you to ask what it is you are passionate about, what makes you smile when you wake up in the morning. Then, go out and find a way to realize your dreams," said Downing.
"Wherever you go in life, find your passion," said Pignatelli.
Laura Saldarini, the valedictorian, told her classmates about the unconventional path she took to graduation, beginning with little more than a desire to go back to school.
"I had always planned to go to college, but something kept getting in my way. It wasn't work or marriage or kids; it was not knowing what I wanted to do. It seemed like an incredibly huge stumbling block to me," she said.
She recounted how, after she had looked at the college catalog, she just knew that BCC was the school for her and the environmental science program was the right course of study.
"Something in me stirred. Actually, it kind of bubbled over and I couldn't wait to take the next step. This was the beginning of the path that led me to this podium today. And stepping through the gate onto that path led me to a great discovery — my passion for learning about and preserving the natural environment," Saldarini said.
The honors student and rock 'n' roll bassist told the students gathered in the Shed's front row that nothing could stand in their way.
"My message to those of you graduating today and to those of you that might be just beginning your college education is — do not let your stumbling blocks keep you from finding and pursuing your passions. Expose your fears to the light of day and watch them disintegrate. Think outside of your own personal boxes. Include what you love in your criteria for choosing your career — it will make an incredible difference in your life, the difference between working for a living and living through your work," she said.
For criminal justice major Melani Mielke, commencement marks the first time she was part of a graduation ceremony. The 41-year-old homemaker is the youngest of eight children who grew up in Pennsylvania, none of whom graduated from high school.
Mielke, who is raising her 12-year-old daughter along with two of her grandchildren, thought she was "too old" to go back to school but it was a group of women in one of her community groups that encouraged her to enroll in college.
"These women shared their stories with me about starting college late in life and I thought maybe I could do it, too," said Mielke, who now lives in Richmond.
"When I first started years ago, I thought, 'Oh my God, I can't do this.' The first couple of semesters were very challenging and I said to myself, 'Do I even have a brain up there?' But I developed a love for learning and it helps to have someone else believe in you," Mielke said.
Mielke would eventually like to become a homicide detective but for right now, she'll settle for being a role model to her children and grandchildren.
"I hope they'll see this and take it all in. I didn't have any role models. My mother had only a sixth-grade education and she didn't understand the importance of education. When I look back on it, she signed those quitting papers like it was a permission slip for a field trip," Mielke said.
Calling graduation a "big, big step," she said she welcomes the challenge of raising a family and pursuing more education.
"I like the challenge. If it came easily, it wouldn't feel like such an accomplishment. I'm absolutely glad I did this. I realize now that I'm not too old," she said.
Patricia Plummer, the commissioner of the Department of Higher Education and the ceremony's keynote speaker, spoke to the importance of higher education and the state and praised BCC for its commitment to its students.
"It is well known that BCC grads are well prepared for the further education and work. All of you sitting here today hold in your hands the ticket to your future and to some extent the economic future of the commonwealth," said Plummer.
"That degree is the beginning of your work in your chosen field. The rest of the learning takes forever and I urge you to embrace the work in progress that is you."
For the list of graduates, click here.
