Students sacrifice now for a better tomorrow

Suzy Elmore has been through tough times.

A home destroyed in a fire.

The loss of a job.

A divorce.

There are days the thought of those setbacks motivates her as she pursues an associate degree at North Idaho College.

“I want something no one can take away from me,” she said. “This is a degree, this is mine forever. It will help me get places.

“Even if something happens, tragedy, whatever, you can pick yourself back up.”

A single mom of two teenagers, she returned to college, is studying social work, and is on schedule to graduate in May. Then, she plans to continue toward her bachelor’s degree at Lewis-Clark State College.

While she’s made steady progress, earning honor roll status for three semesters, it’s never been easy. Far from it.

“Coming back to school is really difficult,” Elmore said.

Keeping up with classes, studying, and home life can be a bit of a trick. But through carpooling and planning, they make it work.

At home, there’s one computer for four people, all who need it. The family has one car. Money is tight.

“I’m hoping to buy a laptop for our house,” she said. “That’s the goal. I need a laptop really bad. That would be helpful.”

The 37-year-old is proud of her kids, who do well in school.

“They inspire me. If they can do it, I’ve got to pull this out,” she said.

Elmore sat down with two other NIC students and the Hagadone News Network to talk about the challenges of attending college — and what it has taken to stay the course.

EMIL’S STORY

Emil Vang, 27, dropped out of high school in 10th grade and wondered if he could ever get to college.

“You look at the math of going to school and it kind of seems impossible almost,” he said.

With determination, he has learned, all things are possible.

Today, married, with a son and working full time, he still takes 12 credits at NIC as he works toward a degree in business finance, with plans to graduate in fall of 2021.

“Every day the chronological order of your routine switches up. It’s a juggling act,” he said.

He laughs about picking up his son after school and trying to study at home, with the 20-month-old hitting the keyboard.

Like Elmore, he’s received Pell grants that have helped cover tuition at NIC, which for a Kootenai County resident, the cost per credit is $141.50. So the average cost of tuition for an associate degree at NIC is around $8,500.

“You just gotta work your tail off to get good grades and get scholarships,” he said.

JOANN’S STORY

Joann Latimer is a divorced mom with two children, 8 and 11 years old. She returned to college and is seeking an English degree with plans to be a writer.

It’s been a long road.

“I really need to do this for me,” she said.

Her job of 13 years at a local pharmacy, while a good one and enjoyable, was not her passion. The 44-year-old praised her boss for being so willing to accommodate her second try at college.

She dropped out her freshman year, got a job, got married, had kids.

“We did life,” she said.

Latimer never quite got over that desire to attend college, so last January, she enrolled at NIC.

“I always intended to go back,” she said. “I told my parents I would go back. And now I actually am.”

What drives her is determination to prove she belongs, that she can do it — and her children.

“Life is too short,” she said. “Having that degree opens so many more doors. I’m showing my kids education is important.”

Her kids are supportive and are great about helping out around the house.

“Everybody has to chip in,” she said.

Latimer tells her kids that perhaps for the next few years they won’t be able to buy things, go on trips to Disneyland or have extraordinary Christmas gifts under the tree.

She speaks of giving up stuff now for later on.

“This is just a time,” Latimer said, smiling.

The family still enjoys all that North Idaho has to offer — beauty, outdoors, parks, free events.

And then, there are Friday nights, which are dedicated to family movies when they settle down in front of the TV with blankets and popcorn.

“That has been kind of a refuge,” she said.

SACRIFICES STANDARD

None of the three had any doubts that the sacrifices to go after a college degree are worth it.

Elmore said she gave up a job, losing her health insurance, and has less money now. But, if she wanted a new career, it had to be done.

“I’ve got to get ahead at some point,” she said, adding, “I just pray every day I hope I don’t get sick, I hope nothing happens,” she said.

Elmore dropped out of school at 16.

“Coming back to college, the most frightening thing, honestly, was having to take math and science to do anything,” she said.

She credits NIC for its tutoring opportunities.

“Without that, I wouldn’t have come back,” Elmore said.

Vang said money and time are key and he does his best to use them both wisely.

”Where are you going to invest your time?” he said.

A decision had to be made whether to focus on immediate needs or future needs. He and his wife agreed to make sacrifices now for the road ahead.

“I know going to college will be good for the future,” he said.

Looking back, when he didn’t have his GED, was married and a child was on the way, he had his doubts.

“I didn’t think I was going to be able to go to school, but you just have got do it and make results happen,” he said.

Latimer pays for college through loans, grants and part-time work. It’s a financial pinch paying rent each month, and her mom has helped out.

“I hated to do that,” Latimer said. “I hated to ask.”

It’s a balancing act, for sure.

“Any small thing can just throw you for a loop,” she said. “My car is paid for and still works, but it needs tires. Anything like that can put you on the edge.”

But, there’s no going back.

“All my eggs are in the school basket,” she said. “This has to be what works.”

Elmore lives with her mom, who invited her to move in so she could focus on school and studying.

“If I had to do rent I wouldn’t be here right now. I wouldn’t, seriously,” she said.

Vang has family and friends who deal with daily struggles.

“So you look at these different paths surrounding you, and you just finally resolve to make your own path that will lead to something a little more prosperous,” he said.

Latimer agreed.

She’s determined to take advantage of her second chance at college.

“This is for 18-year-old me who was struggling and couldn’t do it,” she said. “This is for something better in the future.”