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Mazzy Draffen - Celebrating National First Generation College Student Day, November 8

Paducah, KY (11/08/2024) — Knowing that she wanted more than just a "dead-end job," Mazzy Draffen made the choice to go to college, and is the first generation in her family to do so. As we celebrate National First Generation College Student Day on November 8, we wanted to share the impact college makes on one of WKCTC's students!

Draffen, a native of Massac County, Illinois, had been waitressing since she was 15 years old when she made her decision. Her mother worked in customer service and her father worked in the river marine industry, but she knew she wanted to reach for something else.

"Until I was 21 I didn't think I needed college, but I was just tired of what I was doing," she said. "I couldn't move up in customer service really-you can only get so far-and college is an important thing to me now."

Influenced by the hopes of their grandmother, she and her sister are both setting goals that include a college degree. Draffen's sister, Mya, earned her associate degree from WKCTC, and has transferred to the University of Louisville, where she is majoring in hospitality.

Draffen has recently been accepted into the Medical Laboratory Technician program at WKCTC. She wants to continue her education to earn a bachelor's degree after she graduates from the program in December 2025.

Her path to the MLT program started with a conversation with her biology professor, Dr. LaToya Jones. "I was taking the BIO 135 class and we started doing histology and looking at cells and tissues under the microscope," she said. "I talked to Dr. Jones after class and said I didn't really know what I wanted to do, and she mentioned there was a pre-admission conference for MLT that very day." From there she knew she had found her path.

Draffen says that her grandmother would be so proud of what she and her sister are accomplishing. "She has passed away, but I know she's proud," she said. "I'm just grateful for the opportunity to do this."

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