Krishna Shah is thankful for the impact GTCC has had on her life, in and out of the classroom

“My time at GTCC was amazing not just in the classes, but you also feel connected with the professors. You can ask questions without fear,” said Shah.

There was a time when Krishna Shah had a difficult time understanding the concept of community college.

Today, she is forever grateful to Guilford Technical Community College for the impact it had on her life, in the classroom, and beyond.

In 2021, Shah, who was 18, had just arrived in Greensboro from her home in Gujarat, India. She remembers learning of GTCC while applying to colleges but said, “I could not understand the meaning of ‘community college’.”

She first enrolled at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG), but once she better understood community college, she took a leap of faith and transferred to GTCC.

At GTCC, she earned her Associate of Arts in accounting and finance before transferring back to UNCG, where she recently graduated with a Bachelor of Science in economics, with honors.

“GTCC and its professors always make sure each and every student who wants to pursue a four-year degree, that they get into that school,” said Shah. “I never felt inferior to anyone at GTCC.”

While a Titan, she became a leader of the international student’s association and was the vice president of the student government association. Sadly, with just a semester left before graduation, Shah suffered a near fatal car crash. It was then she discovered the college’s care and concern for students reached outside the classroom.

“I was on my way to school for my biology exam and I had a car accident,” recalls Shah. “One of my classmates got the news and let my professors know, and all of my professors were so nice during this time.”

Her injuries were life-threatening, so her parents quickly traveled from India to be with her. Due to the severity of Shah’s injuries, she spent a month in the hospital and was forced to take a semester off.

“GTCC was wonderful during all of this. I had to take one semester off to recover fully and had to do therapy and even went back home to India for a bit,” she said. “When I took my parents to the college in January of 2023 when classes had just started back, several staff members took time to have a few minutes with my parents so they would all meet each other.”

Her success, Shah said, all stems from her time at GTCC both before and after her car accident.

“My time at GTCC was amazing not just in the classes, but you also feel connected with the professors. You can ask questions without fear,” said Shah. “Having a class of just 25 students really helped me understand the concepts orally and it’s easier for you to ask questions since the classes are smaller.

“I had a really strong foundation thanks to GTCC. It was a seamless transition to UNCG as a junior, thanks to my time at GTCC.”

Prior to graduation at UNCG, Shah was working part-time at the Bryan School of Economics and Business as a conduct officer investigating the use of artificial intelligence in research papers.

Shah was also recently honored with an award from UNCG and the Bryan School for her commitment to excellence and community, awarded to students with a GPA of 3.3. or above and who works in the dean’s office.

She is now deciding on her future, either earning an advanced degree or stepping into the financial workplace. All the while, she remains thankful.

“Both of my journeys to GTCC and UNCG have been wonderful and I have no regrets,” she said. “I had highs and lows and had people around me that helped me heal quickly.

“Each day is a gift, a blessing. We should take care of ourselves and not take things so seriously.”