After graduating from high school and receiving offers from multiple universities, Mesa resident Kashmir Baillie, age 20, decided Mesa Community College was the perfect fit for her educational goals.
“I will never forget how MCC helped me reach the first step in my higher education,” said Baillie, whose career goal is to be a lawyer. “I would recommend MCC to anyone who wants a quality education at a great price.”
Baillie graduates this spring with an Associate in Applied Science in Forensic Science with an emphasis in Crime Scene Investigation, and an Associate in Arts with an emphasis in Criminal Justice. Additionally, she will receive two Certificates of Completion: one in Crime Scene Investigation and another in Fingerprint Identification and Photography.
Baillie said the past two years at MCC have brought her so much joy, however, like many other students, she had to overcome obstacles such as learning how to be a working student.
“Working to pay for school and my other expenses while also having six classes each semester often caused me to be stressed,” she said. “Despite those low points, I can appreciate the things that the situation has taught me. I can now handle more projects and have developed a great sense of time management.”
Baillie said these obstacles have also taught her that the end product is always worth the hard work and sacrifices.
“I had questioned myself many times on this educational journey, but now I can see it was all worth it,” she explained. “In the future, I will reflect on those times and know that the tough times always get better.”
Baillie said MCC counselor Pamela Cowing assisted her throughout the process. “Mrs. Cowing has helped me through many hard choices and has given me advice that I will use for the rest of my life. I cannot thank her enough for her support on my academic journey.”
Baillie’s educational goal is to transfer to Grand Canyon University (GCU) to obtain a bachelor's degree in government studies with an emphasis in law, and then apply to Arizona State University's law school. She has received a GCU scholarship for the upcoming 2024 semester.
“I will never forget how MCC helped me reach the first step in my higher education,” she added. “I would recommend MCC to anyone seeking a quality education at a great price.”