Katelyn Peters is in her second semester at Virginia Commonwealth University after transferring from Virginia Peninsula Community College. The transition has gone smoother than she could have imagined.
She knows why: The first few weeks of every class at VCU is a refresher of what she learned at VPCC.
“Being able to tackle the assignments and the studying that was given to us, I really had to step back and say, ‘Wow, this is why I’m so well-prepared for this,’” she said.
She struggled for the right word, but called VPCC’s Public Safety, Allied Health, and Human Services program “superior.”
“I'm so well-prepared for each of my classes,” said Peters, who earned her associate degree from VPCC in December 2023 and is working on a bachelor’s degree in Health, Physical Education, and Exercise Science at VCU. “I had a heavy workload at Virginia Peninsula, and the assignments were pretty robust, so it was a smooth transition.”
As Peters prepared for the next step on her educational journey, Michelle Alexander, dean of the Public Safety, Allied Health, and Human Services division at VPCC, explained what the classes would be like and what the requirements would include.
“I did not expect it to be so exact, and I didn't expect to remember as much as I do,” Peters said. “I thought there would be a little bit of a gap in between, but there hasn't been any knowledge gap whatsoever.”
For Peters, who grew up in Roanoke, going to a four-year school out of high school wasn’t for her. She tried funeral service in Tidewater, but when it came time for an internship, she realized that profession wasn’t what she wanted.
Once she decided on a different career path about two years ago, she started looking at community colleges. She chose VPCC and enrolled in summer 2022.
“I found that in the catalog, I really liked Virginia Peninsula's program the best,” she said.
She’s pursuing a career in exercise physiology or recreation therapy for children with a developmental disability. She volunteers in that field at a non-profit in Henrico and enjoys it.
Alexander remembers Peters from an online summer class.
“She’s a dedicated student,” Alexander said. “We are so proud of her.”
Credit, said Peters, belongs to Alexander and many others at the College.
“I really liked just the support in general. It seemed like wherever I reached out, I was able to get a really clear answer, and it wouldn't take long to get that answer,” she said. “All of my instructors were wonderful, too.”
But she did single out pair.
“Dean Alexander really left an impression on me,” said Peters, who lives in West Point. “She was so involved, even with it being an online course. She held Zoom meetings every week and she shared some of the ways that she had advanced her career. Even though I’m in the exercise side and she’s in the public health side, I really enjoyed hearing her experiences.”
Peters also mentioned History instructor Hannah Powers.
“I think about her often. It’s obvious that she enjoys teaching and puts a lot of effort and pride into her courses,” Peters said.
While schoolwork and volunteer responsibilities occupy most of her time, Peters also is a ghost tour guide at Colonial Williamsburg.
“That’s a lot of fun,” she said.
In five or 10 years, she would like to be deep into a rewarding career that offers stability.
“I want to get up in the morning and go to work and feel comfortable in a sense of belonging there and leave feeling satisfied most days,” she said. “I know that's not possible every day, but most days.”
As she reflects on her time at VPCC, she has advice for others.
“I think people should know that you're going to get as much as you want out of Virginia Peninsula,” she said. “If you look for the community, for the sense of belonging, for the school pride, it's going to be there. If you want to get the most out of your academics, it's going to be there. You just have to do the work and reach out to the professors or the instructors. They're all very approachable, very friendly, and they want to help you.”
And if you want to pursue a four-year degree, go for it.
“Don't be afraid, don't hesitate. It's going to be a lot better than you think,” she said.
For Peters, it was because of the foundation she built at VPCC. She’s a proponent of the community college system.
“Everybody says it’s a good way to transition from the high school to the college setting,” she said. “For me, it has been really just invaluable. I'm so well-prepared for each of my classes.”
That’s not much of a surprise to Alexander, who said it’s great to see students thriving at the next level.
“We know that our students do so well when they transfer,” she said. “We're very proud of Katelyn and really looking forward to her next steps in her journey.”
For more information on VPCC, visit www.vpcc.edu.