Story and photos by Audrey Scherer,
staff reporter
Ashley Shickler,
Staff Reporter
Daniel Sanchez
GED
Plans after graduation
His dream job is to become an ER nurse and he would like to write a book about his experiences in the ER, he said.
“I’m really excited at this moment. All at the same time extremely nervous,” he said.
Advice for students
Do not give up. Keep trying and anyone can eventually succeed, he said.
“Once you do, it will be one of the best moments of your life,” he said.
Experience with CNM
CNM provides students with an individualized experience which makes them feel like the whole school is supporting them, he said.
Monica Prince
GED
Advice for students
“As I got older, I understood that education is really important,” she said.
Reason for college
She wanted to further her education not just in cosmetology, but academically to have a back-up plan for providing a better life for her son, she said.
Kailyn Aragon
Child Development Certificate
Advice for students
The long hours get hard, especially if you work full-time and have children, but if you keep going it is worth it in the end, she said.
Experience with CNM
She loves the teachers; she loves how they work with students, she said.
“They understand that we have lives outside of school, that we don’t take our education for granted,” she said, “They understood us.”
Amanda Martin
Integrated Studies
Plans after graduation
She is going to UNM in the fall for a bachelor’s and ultimately a Master’s in Management Information Systems. She wants to make sure everyone and their information is safe, secure, and protected, she said.
Experience with CNM
“Teachers are always there to help, it’s been a great experience,” she said.
Alexander Little
Computer Information Systems
Advice for students
Look for jobs and internships before you graduate because it can take a while, he said.
Doing something at the same time can make school a little less disparaging, he said.
Experience with CNM
He really liked the small classes, he said.
“It was really neat to have 1-on-1 time with my professors,” he said.
Antonio Downie
Integrated Studies and Network Administration
Plans after graduation
“I figured I’ve been doing it for so long and fixing all this different stuff, it’s good to have the education behind it because it makes you remarkable,” he said.
Experience with CNM
“Teachers really give you a chance,” he said.
Esteban Garcia
Associates in Welding Technologies
Advice for students
“Just work hard, man. It’s all about what you put into it,” he said.
Experience with CNM
“The instructors from the welding program are awesome. They really care about the students and want you to go forward. They really care about your future,” he said.
Nicole Gutierrez
Associates in Welding
Plans after graduation
She is looking for a job in town and after she has saved some money she is going to fix up her truck and take it across country to work in the piping industry and see the country, too, she said.
Advice for students
“Just work really hard and stay at it and the rewards will come,” she said.
Experience with CNM
She loved her welding program and instructors, she said.
“They are amazing; they put in way more time and effort than any other instructors,” she said.
Jennifer Langdon
Degree- Accounting, Associates
Advice for students attending CNM?
“Do the work, go for whatever your passion is, I changed my major four times. Even if you don’t find something right away that works, keep trying, there’s something out there that you will fall in love with,” she said.
Kellei Schear
Degree- Culinary Arts, Associates
What was your favorite thing about taking classes at CNM?
Every instructor seemed like they really wanted the best for their students and that they were there to help in whatever way possible, she said.
Hannah Gajeton
Degree- Business Administration, Associates
Plans for the future?
“I want to follow in my dad’s footsteps, he’s got a million master’s degrees, he’s got a really good job and I kind of want to follow in his footsteps with school. I want to learn as much as I can,” she said.
Marissa Gonzalez
Degree- Biology, Associates
Advice for students attending CNM?
“Don’t do something that you’re going to be unhappy with because I have seen so many people who have done things that they’re not happy with and they are just miserable at their jobs,” she said.
Patrick Hurtado
Degree- General engineering, Associates
What led you to this career path?
He has been driving race cars since he was eight years old, so racing played a major role in his life, as well as working on cars and doing automotive engineering, he said.
