Student Profile: Jay Ware

Jordan “Jay” Ware has completed nursing prerequisites at Kalamazoo Valley and will enter the nursing program in fall 2021. He attended high school in Aurora, Colorado and moved to Kalamazoo about two years ago with his parents, one of whom retired from a military career.

He’s been impressed with the instruction he’s received at Kalamazoo Valley and isn’t hesitant to share his enthusiasm for the college. “I really thought that community college would be a good way to get the experience that I needed,” he said. “The instructors have more time to focus on teaching.”

Ware is active with the college’s Sister2Brother student group and is also a Kalamazoo Valley Accelerated Association Program (KVAAP) student. The KVAAP program covers tuition and fees for participants and helps them stay on track toward obtaining an associate degree. KVAAP students have access to advising, personalized support, career development and educational pathway assistance. “KVAAP is a really good asset,” Ware said. “It inspires me to focus on academics. They offer really great seminars every couple of weeks. It really gives me what I need to keep moving.”

KVAAP Director Louis Thomas said he’s been impressed with Ware’s attitude. "Jay is a perfect example of a student who is striving for excellence by actively seeking information, connecting with peers and taking advantage of valuable resources like advising, seminars and other campus supports. His presence in KVAAP is defined by his positive engagement, pursuit of academic excellence and support of his peers. I'm confident that he'll continue on his path to success," Thomas said.

While he initially had reservations about taking online courses, Ware said the transition to remote learning, necessitated by the Covid-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic, has been seamless. “The way our instructors care is a huge help,” he said. “They’re adamant about making sure we have everything we need to be successful."

Ware said he thinks reaching out and asking for help is essential for success in college, especially now. "To students who may be having a hard time thriving, especially during the pandemic, I would say: this is a difficult time, but the experiences that you are facing do not define you. I would encourage students to reach out to their instructors and the faculty at Valley, because they want the best for you. However the first step is to reach out. There is a great deal of support to be found here-- the professors are accommodating, the counselors will set you on the right path, and there are still many groups to give you community and support, even as we deal with this difficult situation. I want to give a special mention to Sister2Brother, as everyone there has given me encouragement and opportunities that I could have never dreamed of, and they are accessible and available to everyone here at Valley. You are not alone, and your peers and the people here are there to ensure that you are successful,” he said.

Ware has even found it advantageous to take part in classes via Zoom. “I’m able to re-watch lectures and reach out to my instructors on Zoom,” he said. “It’s been great for my GPA.” He shares his knowledge with others while working as a lab assistant in the biology department. “It’s really fun,” he said, “I like seeing the instructors face to face and helping able to help out where I can.” He’s eager to start classes in the associate of applied science in nursing program. “I’m excited about nursing because I think it’s a good mix of a trade and a professional science job. I really like science and I really want to work face to face helping other people,” he said.

Ware is thankful for the exceptional instruction he’s receiving and that he was able to take the time to plan out his career aspirations. For students who don’t know where they want to end up, he offers this advice, “Take your time to think, but don’t be paralyzed by the choice. Make a logical choice based on whatever you enjoy the most. Delve deep into what interests you.”