"I think one of the most important impacts [WVC] has had on me is not being afraid of my education. It was always hard to have hard conversations about important topics; it was hard to share my voice because I didn’t feel educated enough or book smart enough. Through my history class last year, I learned that if you have the passion for something, you can make a difference."
- Ellen Ferrell, Director of Admin Affairs in the WVC Student Senate

Tell us a little bit about yourself.

“My name is Ellen Ferrell and one thing about me is that I am a twin. Growing up I didn’t realize how fortunate that I was but I now know that it is the greatest thing God could have given me. I was adopted from Ghana, Africa and it’s been a really cool, interesting process and I would not change it for one bit. I was adopted along with my twin sister and little brother and there are 5 kids in our family.  Through my process I’ve just understood how much hard work really pays off and even though sometimes you will fail, you just have to keep going. I really take life for the best and I try and just enjoy every moment.”

 What motivates you to be a student leader?

“I think what motivates me to be a student leader is the idea of getting to know different people, different perspectives, different voices. I think in life you have to put yourself out there because that’s how you learn, that’s how you grow. I also like the challenge of being pushed out of my comfort zone. I think a lot of people might see me as a leader, but personally it’s hard for me to put myself out there, even though I might seem really outgoing and confidant, I’m still kind of shy too, so whether it is public speaking or that kind of stuff, it’s really cool to be pushed out of your comfort zone each day. It makes me feel alive.”

 How has WVC impacted you?

“Wenatchee Valley College has impacted me in many ways. I think one of the most important impacts it has had on me is not being afraid of my education. It was always hard to have hard conversations about important topics; it was hard to share my voice because I didn’t feel educated enough or book smart enough. Through my history class last year, I learned that if you have the passion for something, you can make a difference. You don’t always have to be the smartest person in the room to share your voice. It is so cool to be here with the other Running Start students. There’s just so much passion and so much energy to make change. It really motivates me.”

 What are your plans for your future?

“I’m really excited to graduate! My sister and both really worked hard to get to that level.

We have gotten a partial scholarship to do track and field at Western. We are going to be studying exercise science, or kinesiology and we are going to be opening our own track and field company someday. I think at the end of the day doing something that you are passionate about and something you love goes a long way. And for us – it’s not just about helping athletes become better mentally and physically. It’s also about educating the athletes to know that they can be more than just an athlete. We are citizens, we are part of a democracy. We can use our voices for change.”

 What advice do you have for new students at WVC or students who are not involved in a club?

“Even though it is a community college you have to allow yourself to have fun and to meet different people and be a part of the clubs. I think some students think, “Oh, I didn’t get to go to a university so I can’t have fun and I can’t have that college vibe...” But there’s just so much to do here and you have to push yourself to find what you want. Also, don’t be afraid to really get into your studies. Especially for Running Start students. In high school it can be really hard because it’s always just test-test-test. Sometimes it doesn’t even feel like you are learning anything – just taking tests and then it goes out of your brain. So I think it’s really empowering to learn here at WVC. Allow yourself to get into your studies.  Learning is actually really fun!”