- Major: Hospitality Management
- Battery Creek in Beaufort, SC, class of 2017
Nyjee Rivers began finding her support system at OCC before she ever set foot on campus. After graduating high school she took advantage of a scholarship opportunity and attended a 6-month boot camp at the Culinary Institute of America (CIA) in Poughkeepsie. As her scholarship was nearing its end she began searching for related options in upstate New York. During her time at CIA she had heard glowing recommendations about OCC Hospitality Management faculty member Chef James Taylor. "I looked at his background and became so excited at the thought of him becoming my instructor."
Rivers decided to contact Steve White who oversees OCC's Veterans Affairs Office. As the child of a veteran she could utilize services there. "From the moment I spoke to him on the phone about transferring, it didn't feel like someone just trying to get me off the phone. He wanted to make sure I was going to be comfortable and the classes I was going to take would help me get my degree. He became a mentor. Being so far away from family he made me feel at home."
Rivers began taking classes at OCC in January 2018. She started fitting in right away both in the Hospitality Management major, as a member of the Veterans club, and across campus. "I met some really cool people. I found my kitchen voice. I found my tribe. I really got to know people and it was nice to have that family atmosphere."
When Rivers returned this semester she did so as a student officer. She's serving the campus community as the Vice President of Entertainment & Programming. She's used to being in a leadership role. "I was president of my senior class and I didn't feel like I got enough done. I felt I could accomplish things on a larger scale here. I like event coordinating and feel this is something that can help me gain experience."
Despite being so far from home Rivers stays in touch with her parents who often share their wisdom with her. Whether it's her mom who told her, 'you're going to find yourself in college,' and to 'put yourself out there,' or her father who is battling through health problems related to exposure to the chemical Agent Orange during the Vietnam War. "He's the strongest person I know. If I call and tell him I'm having a hard day he says, 'not every day is easy. I didn't raise you to give up. You don't see me giving up. I'm not giving up on you.' He's my rock. He's my star."
Rivers will earn her degree this December. She's hoping to transfer to Virginia State University and pursue a hospitality-related bachelor's degree. In the meantime she's enjoying her final semester on the OCC campus. "I take every day as a new adventure. I ask myself, 'what new person am I going to meet today? What cool thing am I going to accomplish today?' It might be a hard day. It might be a good day. Regardless, it will be a better day than yesterday."
