CWU-Des Moines grad defies the odds on her way to a degree

In 2019, Venus Phengphachanh was at a crossroads.

Living in south Seattle and raising two kids as a single mother, making ends meet was a tall order, especially without a college degree. She put in the hours at work, but she kept seeing people achieve more than her, thanks to that crucial bit of paper.

"Education was always at the back of my mind, because I'd see these younger employees come in and rise through the ranks faster than me thanks to their college educations," Phengphachanh said. "I thought to myself, 'no more of this.'"

Phengphachanh's family attorney recognized her potential and passion for success, and suggested she pursue a paralegal certification as a way to get ahead in life, for both her and her children. Having stepped away from her college education 20 years prior, Phengphachanh consolidated her transcripts and jumped headfirst into her education at Highline College, taking on a full class load while working full-time and taking care of her family. She pushed through this immense workload by keeping her kids' futures in mind.

"My motivation is definitely my kids," she said. "I started this journey because I wanted a better job to support them. Watching me, they can see my efforts to give them a better life, and know that anything is possible with the right motivation."

Once she completed her paralegal certification and associate's degree in 2021, Phengphachanh realized that she didn't feel quite done with school yet, so she immediately enrolled at CWU Des-Moines to continue pursuing her passion for law and justice. At the same time, she took on her current position as a legal assistant in the King County Department of Public Defense. Through hard work and dedication, she accumulated stellar grades and found herself enjoying the journey while keeping her eye on the destination.

"My first quarter I got two Bs and an A, and I spoke to a classmate who'd made the dean's list," Phengphachanh said. "I asked her what this dean's list was, as I'd never heard of it before, and ever since then, I was on it every quarter, because I'm an overachiever."

On June 4, Phengphachanh will be walking across the commencement stage in the Kent Showare Center in front of an audience of her peers, and, most importantly, her children, ages 9 and 11, as well as the latest addition to the family, a 6-month old baby. She'll graduate with honors, having earned her BA in law and justice.

"I don't think I'll be able to hold it together, walking across that stage and knowing that my kids are watching. This has been 20 years in the making," Phengphachanh said, adding that once the celebrating is done, she is going to take her first summer off in four years. "I had every obstacle in my way that you can think of. For those who are unsure whether to go back to school, just take it day by day, and believe in yourself."