Student Commencement Speaker Series, Part 4: Monique Smith's Path from Pain to Purpose

When Monique Smith walked across the stage to accept her AAS in Human and Social Services degree from Bryant & Stratton College’s Virginia Beach Campus, she was celebrating a full-circle moment years in the making that was built on resilience, faith, and a determination to turn her deepest pain into a purpose that helps others heal. Monique graduated as the Valedictorian of the Class of 2026, and she was selected to serve as her class’s Student Commencement Speaker.

A Story Shaped by Life, Not Just Coursework

Monique didn’t choose the Human and Social Services field by accident. She chose it because she lived it. “I’ve experienced addiction, homelessness, grief, trauma, and the heartbreaking loss of loved ones, including my daughter, who was killed by gun violence,” Monique shared. “Instead of allowing my pain to define me, I chose to turn it into purpose.”

Rather than letting those experiences hold her back, Monique made the decision to use her story to help others find their way forward. Today, she works as a Peer Recovery Specialist, walking alongside individuals and families as they navigate some of the hardest moments of their lives. It’s work she describes as a calling by being the person who believes in someone, encourages them, and reminds them that they are more than their circumstances.

An Education That Gave Her More Than Knowledge

Monique credits Bryant & Stratton College with giving her more than an education. “It gave me confidence,” she said. The Human and Social Services program helped her build a foundation in crisis intervention, case management, ethics, communication, and advocacy; skills she now relies on every day in her career.

Just as importantly, her coursework helped her connect her lived experience with evidence-based practice. “My education showed me that my past doesn’t define me, it prepares me to help others find hope,” she explained.

While Monique says no single instructor or class stands out above the rest, she describes the encouragement she received throughout her time at B&SC as a constant. Her instructors challenged her to think critically and reminded her frequently that she was capable of more than she believed.

Pushing Through the Hardest Days

Returning to school as an adult student came with its challenges. Monique balanced family responsibilities, work, and personal challenges throughout her program while carrying grief that, at times, felt overwhelming.

“Each obstacle became another reason to keep pushing,” Monique said. “I stayed focused, trusted God, leaned on my support system, and reminded myself why I started.” Graduating as Valedictorian became proof, in her words, that perseverance, determination, and faith can overcome even the greatest obstacles.

A Full-Circle Moment

When Monique learned she’d been chosen as her class Student Commencement Speaker, the news left her overwhelmed with gratitude. “I felt honored, humbled, and honestly a little emotional,” she recalled. For someone who once struggled just to find direction in life, standing before her graduating class to speak felt like everything had come together. For Monique, graduation isn’t a finish line but the beginning of the next chapter.

The message she hopes they remember most:

“So today, we don’t just celebrate a graduation. We celebrate resilience. We celebrate growth. We celebrate becoming. And we walk out of here not just with degrees in our hands, but with purpose in our hearts and fire in our spirit. We didn’t come this far just to survive. We came to rise.”

Congratulations, Monique! Your story is a powerful reminder that our greatest challenges can become the foundation for our greatest purpose.

Keep an eye out for the next spotlight in our Student Commencement Speaker Series and explore more Bryant & Stratton College alumni stories here.