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Featured photo: Blue Ridge Community College student Ramona Normand picture outside the Transylvania County Campus. Photo by Grayson Compton.
By Rob Rhodes, Transylvania County Campus
Blue Ridge Community College student Ramona Normand knows what it means to keep moving forward.
Normand is preparing to graduate at the end of the semester with an Associate in Applied Science – Human Services Technology-Addiction & Recovery Studies Degree and a Social and Human Services Certificate completing a journey defined by perseverance, family support, and a desire to help others.
Normand currently works as an evening receptionist at Blue Ridge’s Transylvania County Campus and also serves as an Income Maintenance Caseworker at the Transylvania County Department of Social Services.
Her path back to college began several years ago while living in Oxford, NC, where Normand started work on a drug abuse counselor degree at Vance-Granville Community College. At the time she was employed by Revlon as a production specialist. When the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted daily life, Normand and her family relocated in search of better schools for their children and an opportunity to be closer to family and friends.
Even through those changes, her academic goal remained the same.
“I knew I wanted to help people that struggle with mental illness and substance abuse,” Normand said. “I had seen family members and friends my whole life struggle with these issues.”
That commitment carried her through years of balancing college classes with full-time work and family responsibilities. Normand said her husband, daughter and Department of Social Services supervisors all played a major role in helping her stay on track, whether by helping at home or allowing the flexibility she needed to attend in-person classes.
“It has been a dream of mine for 7 years, plugging away sometimes 2 or 3 classes a semester,” she said. “I just turned 50 and here I am graduating.”
Normand said her work as an evening receptionist gave her both quiet study time and extra income through Blue Ridge’s federal work-study program, which provides part-time jobs for students with financial need.
The adult learner faced setbacks along the way, including a two-year delay caused by the pandemic and hardship related to Hurricane Helene, which led to her husband losing his job in the HVAC industry. Normand said Blue Ridge Success Coach Crystal Bradshaw helped her every step of the way and encouraged her to apply for the Hurricane Helene Student Relief Fund. Success coaches like Bradshaw serve as mentors and help students with study strategies, time management and access to campus resources.
Work at the Department of Social Services also strengthened the connection between classroom learning and real-world service. Normand said her coursework improved her interviewing skills and “taught her verbal and nonverbal communication techniques that help her better serve members of the community.”
Normand also found encouragement from faculty and staff across campus. Normand credited Michele Handy in the Student Success Center, Dr. Ben Kearns in the math department, and her adviser, Dr. Andi Craven, as important sources of academic and personal support during her time at Blue Ridge.
“Ramona is a gift to everyone who meets her,” Craven said. “She is one of those students who comes to class so prepared, it made me stretch and become ever more creative as an instructor so I would match her preparation. Ramona’s quiet calm wisdom during our conversations impacted students of all ages and walks of life. To say I am proud to watch Ramona graduate is an understatement.”
As she looks ahead to graduation, Normand said she is most proud of reaching a goal she has worked toward for years. She plans to remain with the Department of Social Services and continue helping others wherever life takes her family next.
Normand has simple advice for other adults considering a return to college.
“Do it,” she said. “Keep pushing, keep trying and your reward will be more fulfilling than one could imagine.”
To find out more about Blue Ridge’s Social and Human Services Program, visit www.blueridge.edu/human-services or call 828-694-1700 to speak to an admissions counselor.