SHELBY, N.C. — A Shelby student is changing the narrative in her family by going to college — just so happens she made Cleveland County history while doing it.
Laila Chambers, 18, is in her first year at N.C. A&T. She's studying nursing and wants to be a traveling nurse after graduating.
She's hoping to inspire all students to work even harder for the life they want, no matter how challenging the tasks may be.
Chambers recently made Cleveland County history by walking across the graduation stage and getting her high school diploma in May.
At the time, she was attending Cleveland Early College High School on the Cleveland Community College campus.
Cleveland Early College is one of five public high schools in the county. Eligible students are selected by a lottery system.
Students enrolled at the high school are getting their diploma while earning college credits at the same time. They can also get certified in fields including criminal justice, welding and nursing.
Chambers is the first student at Cleveland Early College High School to graduate with not only a high school diploma, but with an associate degree and also as a certified nursing assistant.
"All I could do was smile," Chambers said. "I was nervous the whole day, but then when I walked across the stage it was like a breath of relief."
She said the workload was no easy task but nonetheless well worth it.
While attending classes, Chambers worked two jobs.
"It was hard," she said. "I had to go through summer classes, I had to get ahead of my normal senior schedule in order to complete all three [credentials] to get done by my senior year."
Now Chambers is working to accomplish a new dream — becoming an alumnus of N.C. A&T. However, finishing college will be another history-making moment — this time for her family.
She is a first-generation college student.
Her mother, Saysha Chambers, received her high school diploma and certificate in medical office administration. But she didn't get her college degree.
It's something Saysha Chambers hoped to accomplish, but she had to pause those plans to put food on the table for Laila Chambers and her siblings.
"I had to put my stuff on hold being a mom," Saysha Chambers said. "Working full-time and working two jobs at one point just to make sure they had everything they needed."
Laila Chambers says her mother's support means everything. Her words of motivation and inspiration helped her get through the tough days.
"I feel proud that I made her proud," Laila Chambers said.
Chambers also credits the TRIO Talent Search Program at Cleveland Community College for opening her academic and career horizons.
TRIO Programs are federal outreach and student services programs that identify and provide services for individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds.
The grant program was established in the 1960s to help at-risk students on the path to college.
"They took us on college tours and let us volunteer during several opportunities," Chambers said. "They gave us knowledge on how to further our career and our goals."
There are several programs, including Talent Search in Cleveland County. It's designed to target and assist low-income and first-generation college students as they progress through their academic journey and post-baccalaureate programs.
TRIO Talent Search serves over 500 students in nine schools in Cleveland County, in grade levels 6-12.
Based on last year's reporting, grant director Sarah Thomas says 467 of those students (92%) qualified as either low-income, potential first-generation college student, or both.
"We help students understand all the different pathways to success in their careers," Thomas said. "A lot of our programming is really outside of the school day, like the summer or weekends, when we're able to take students on trips like college tours and cultural activities in the communities. It's to broaden perspectives and get them to consider different career options and especially visiting college campuses to help them consider what's best for them."