Alumni & Friend – C. Leslie Charles
Professional Speaker/Author and LCC Distinguished Alumni Award recipient
At age 29 I was divorced with three children, a tenth grade education,
working full time, living below the poverty line. I suddenly realized that if my
life was going to change, I was the one who had to change it. Sometimes you have
to go backward in order to go forward, and that’s what going on welfare meant
for me.
Attending college was both exciting and intimidating. Exciting that a grant
would fund my dream of getting an education, and intimidating: could I do it?
Just registering for classes was confusing and difficult for me. I felt like I
was flunking registration!
Having dropped out of high school not once, but twice, I had no sense of my
capabilities, but in my first term I received two four-points. The biggest thing
I learned at LCC was that I could indeed learn! I was the first in my family to
graduate from college, and I graduated with honors. My instructors gave me
encouragement, one-on-one attention, and respect. After LCC, I transferred to
MSU. As I chipped away at my B.A., I whined, “At this rate, I’ll be 40 when I
graduate.” And a friend said “Look at it this way—you’ll end up 40 anyway. Keep
going.” I came to LCC to improve my life, and I got even more. LCC gave me the
life I have today and it feels like a dream. If there is a little voice in you
that says, “Try this,” or “Follow your dream,” listen to that little voice –
it’s your potential speaking.
