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It’s not often that practically an entire family attends college at the same time.
But for the Presleys of Chatsworth, Dalton State has become more than a
family affair; it’s become a way of life.
Currently, mom Sherry, 47, and her children Jenny Casey, 31; Kyle Presley, 22;
Sam Presley, 21; and Olivia Presley, 19; are enrolled in various college programs,
while 16-year-old Victoria completes high school and dad John attends
seminary in Atlanta.
“Having everyone in school has made some days very chaotic,” says Sherry, who is studying
to be a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN).
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Five members of the Presley family who attend Dalton State
include:
(back row) Kyle, 22, and Sam, 21; and front row
Jenny
Casey, 31; matriarch Sherry, 47; and Olivia, 19. |
“There’s a lot of coming and going, eating in shifts, and doing laundry. I’ve always had a
nurturing tendency, but with all of us in school, my kids are having to do a lot more at home
taking care of themselves.”
Son Sam, who graduated from Murray County High School (MCHS) in 2006,
was the first to enroll in Dalton State, bringing with him the dream of
pursuing a bachelor’s degree in education.
”I was inspired by an English teacher I had in high school, and I knew that I wanted to be just like him. When I was looking for a college, I realized that quality and affordability were
important to me, and I wanted to take small classes. So I came here, and it’s been a great
experience.”
Trailing shortly behind Sam was his mother, who in her first semester at Dalton State in the
spring of 2007 ended up in a biology class with her son.
“I decided to come back to school and pursue what I really wanted to do, which was nursing,” says Sherry, who earned a General Education Development (GED) diploma in 2001 following a car accident that prevented her from maintaining her job at the Chatsworth Water
Works.
”I’m a caretaking type of person, and I’ve always been interested in science and anatomy. I love to watch documentaries and
surgeries on T.V. I look forward to graduating in May and working, I hope, in a hospital. I
think I’d like to work on an IV team.”
Son Kyle, also interested in the nursing profession, was the next to
enroll at Dalton State, entering in the fall of 2007. A 2005 graduate
of MCHS, Kyle initially entered the work place and still works
part-time as a graphic designer. But he, too, is interested in nursing,
and he has entered the Registered Nursing (RN) program with the goal of
eventually working as a surgical nurse.
“I had an opportunity to do “job shadowing” in high school and I took a class in healthcare
science technology. It was a good program, and we got to watch surgeries. It spurred my
interest in the field. There are many advantages to choosing a job in the health
care field. There’s always going to be job security and flexible work schedules.”
Olivia, a 2007 MCHS grad, is studying to be a Medical Assistant.
”I love taking care of kids,” she says, ”so I hope to work for a pediatrician’s office one day,
getting patients ready for the doctor to come in.”
Jenny, the only married sibling and the mother of three sons, is
following in her mother’s footsteps, raising a family while
pursuing a certificate in Licensed Practical Nursing.
“I came to college in 2001, but I stopped when I started a new job,” she says.
“I’ve been staying at home with my son Matthew, who is not yet two. With most of my family
enrolled in college, I thought I it was a good time to come back to school.
It’s been really good so far. My sons and I do our homework together at the table, and it sets a good example for Damien, who is 13, and Isaac, who is ten.”
Sherry admits that the fast-paced lifestyle makes it harder to make
time for family dinners, but she still feels that finding time to share
their collegiate experiences while eating together is a priority.
”Things have become very tough for everybody these
days,” Sherry says. “In my family we all know that you need to get
your education so you can work in a job that you like and have job security
in the future. We’re all very supportive of each other and we
help out when we can.
“I especially appreciate Dana Trowell, the director of the licensed practical nursing program at Dalton State, who has been a great mentor to me.
The whole experience has been very interesting. But I’m glad
I’ll be finishing first, so I can get back to pampering them
a bit more.”
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