Published: May 08, 2008 10:39 am            

Ivy Tech student proof determination pays off

Mom earns multiple certificates, will graduate with daughter

CORYDON — Eighteen years ago, if you had asked Leslie Williams, who had just given birth to her second child, where she’d be today, she wouldn’t have said holding a college diploma.

“I never would have dreamed that I would be graduating from college,” the 38-year-old Ivy Tech Community College student said. “It was something that I knew I wanted to do, but I didn’t think it would ever be something that I could afford.”

Now, with a 20-year-old, who also attends the Sellersburg campus, and an 18-year-old, who will graduate high school in a few weeks, Williams is not only getting two certificates in the medical field, she is also the student speaker for the commencement ceremony.

She’s so excited, she is counting down the days, hours and minutes to the big moment.

“I can’t even explain how excited I am,” she said. “It’s just been a long road.”

Williams started at Ivy Tech in 2004. A year later, her oldest daughter, Josey

Kintner, was diagnosed with pediatric ovarian cancer. Williams was in the midst of a full schedule and had to drop out.

“It was stressful when it’s your daughter and then all of a sudden school isn’t on the top of your priority list anymore,” Williams said.

As her daughter started to win her battle, Williams started taking Internet classes and then more classes at the college.

Now, Kintner is in remission and both attend Ivy Tech full time.

Williams said she is looking forward to giving her speech, which is focused on getting over your own hurdles to accomplish your goal.

“While going through it all, you don’t always realize why you had to take the road you had, but I wouldn’t change it because it has made me have a new appreciation toward everything,” Williams said. “I wouldn’t be as strong in my convictions with the importance of staying with it and not giving up. And I feel like me sticking with it and graduating sets a good example for my daughters and others.”

More than the lessons she learned in class, Williams took many lessons away from those hurdles.

“I learned a lot about myself and a lot about my daughters. My daughters used to look up to me and now I look up to them,” she said. “It took a lot for Josey to get through what she got through and it took a lot for her sister to go through it, too, and be supportive. A lot of good things came out of it.”

With Friday’s graduation edging near, Williams said it’s weird going through that at the same time as her younger daughter graduates high school.

“Traditionally, you don’t think of going to school with your children and graduating together, so it just seems odd at times,” Williams said.

However, her journey isn’t over Friday. Williams plans to continue her education at Ivy Tech. She hopes to earn an associate degree and a few more certificates in the medical field.

        

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