Graduate Spotlight: Sonya Walter

Sonya Walter has been to hell and back to earn her degree in criminal justice! She came back to school in 2018 and was on track to complete her degree when the pandemic hit. Like for so many, using new technologies, keeping up with the bills, and adapting to an at-home-only environment was a struggle. Beyond that, she was also adapting to a new job, dealing with delays in her internship placement and caring for her father who had advanced cardiovascular disease. To Walter, it was like "walking through fire," but she persisted. 

Her biggest challenge would come in February when the 53-year-old Walter lost her father. It was one of the hardest bumps in the road for her. For many, it would be enough to derail her education. But for Walter, she persisted toward completion because she remembered how proud her father was of what she was doing. 

Now, having walked through hell to get here, Sonya Walter is excited about her next chapter. She has already secured a full-time job at Helio Health and will be continuing her education in criminal justice in the future.