Carroll Community College graduate Luke Fisher made his mark on the school by creating the school newspaper, The Quill, and the college's Green Team environmental club, in addition to serving as a writing consultant and peer mentor.
"People always tell me that I've accomplished a lot," he said. "I really don't feel like I've accomplished that much."
Fisher addressed more than 200 students Wednesday as student speaker during the college's commencement ceremony at McDaniel College's Gill Center.
Maryland State Delegate Justin Ready, a 2002 Carroll Community College graduate, was commencement speaker. He gave the students challenges that stemmed from lessons he has learned over the years.
"I would encourage all of you not to just learn what comes easy," he said, but instead stretch your comfort zone and skills.
He gave advice that graduates should treat every job that they have like it's the job that they want, because the lessons they learn and the people they meet could carry on in different career paths.
It's also important to treat everyone with respect and kindness, even those whose opinions differ from your own, Ready said.
"The world is a tough enough place already," he said. "Everyone has a value."
During the student speech, Fisher discussed how it's taken him six years and seven different majors to graduate from college with an associate degree in arts and sciences. He lost direction, became apathetic and took three semesters off, he said.
One day, he decided he needed to become a better version of himself. The following semester he enrolled in one course at the community college, which inspired him.
"Carroll taught me I can use my struggles to succeed," he said.
Now the 23-year-old from Gamber plans to pursue journalism on a full-tuition scholarship to University of Maryland, College Park.
Fisher has realized his passion for journalism through pursuing so many of his interests. Creating the school newspaper is what he is most proud of, he said.
"I've always tried to be a representative of the student body and get issues out there that they may not have known about otherwise," he said.
Fisher spent long hours at the college, not leaving until the security team kicked him out most nights, but he has met so many great people along the way, he said.
"Life's about the relationships that you make and the people that you get to know," Fisher said. "I hope I will continue to have relationships with them long after I graduate from Carroll."
Fisher was honored at graduation for being selected as a member of the 2012 All-USA Community College Academic Team. Only 20 students from more than 1,700 nominations around the country were selected for the honor. The All-USA Community College Academic Team is presented by USA Today and Phi Theta Kappa national honor society. The award is a $2,500 scholarship and special medallion.
Eileen Rudnick, another Carroll graduate, was selected as a 2012 Coca-Cola Community College Academic Team Bronze Scholar. Bronze scholars each receive a $1,000 scholarship and a special medallion. Phi Theta Kappa honor society administers the Coca-Cola College Academic Team program.
Both she and Fisher are also members of the local, Maryland All-State Academic Team for Community, Technical and Junior College students.
Rudnick had to re-learn everything after she was involved in a vehicle crash 11 years ago, which left her in a coma. Eileen said it brought her career as an accountant abruptly to an end.
"If you had asked me what I would be doing this day 11 years ago, I had very little hope that I'd be doing anything," she said.
It was a long journey to discovering her new self, filled with struggles and tears, but she said it has led her to the right places at the right times.
The 60-year-old is now heading off to Hood College in the fall on a full scholarship to study English. She has already written a book - "The Glass Between Us" - where she explains that a severe traumatic brain injury is an ending in one way, but the beginning of life in another.
"Take that new life you're given and make something of it," she said. "It's a gift so don't squander the gift you've been given."
Arts and Sciences graduate Sydney Shure wants to inspire older people to not be afraid to go back to college.
The 77-year-old, of Westminster, decided to attend college classes after her son died of a drug overdose in 2005.
"I wanted to learn more about mental health," she said. "I'd like to lobby for better mental health and drug care."
Shure may transfer to a four-year college and pursue psychology, but said she hasn't yet found the right school for her where she can take six credits at a time. Going to college has been a great decision, she said.
"Even if you're older, it helps stimulate your mind," she said. "I find that if I don't keep my mind active, my memory gets worse."
