On May 15, I will walk across the stage at Rowan-Cabarrus Community College’s graduation. As a proficient welder with an associate’s degree, I am excited to enter a job market that is hungry for workers who are well-trained to perform trade jobs.

On March 3, I will cast my vote in support of the bond referendum that will allow Rowan-Cabarrus Community College to expand career and technical programs like welding, allowing many more students like me to prepare for sustainable jobs that will support their families and help the county attract employers who need these workers.

I honestly did not know the first thing about welding when I entered Rowan-Cabarrus. I just knew I wanted a career path that did not include sitting at a desk all day. I now know how to weld in many forms and look forward to one day owning my own business. I went from not knowing what I wanted to do with my life at age 18 to having a complete map of my career planned out. Without Rowan-Cabarrus, I would still be searching.

As a woman in a male-dominated field, I worried that I would have a hard time feeling like a part of the team. I can happily say that has never been the case in any of my classes. What I see instead is many students, both male and female, who are eager to become expert welders through an excellent program at our community college. The problem is that the facilities are aging, and the college lacks the capacity to accept the number of students who want to enter the program.

Investment in Rowan-Cabarrus Community College through the bond referendum will help prepare an educated local workforce and open doorways to prosperity for many more students just like me, and for Rowan County.

My future is bright, and I am grateful for the opportunity to find my passion. I hope you will join me in voting “yes” for the Rowan-Cabarrus Community College bond referendum on March 3.

— Grace Peters

China Grove