Young women from Leadville encourage each other toward goals
By Lori Meurs
College is a big step, but with the support of your friends college can be a fun, friendly and relaxed place while you’re learning and evolving. Jackie Radilla, Chelsey Shoup and Mariel Ritacco are close friends and all three are attending Colorado Mountain College in Leadville. Jackie and Chelsey are recent graduates of Lake County High School in Leadville while Mariel is a junior taking dual credit courses at CMC while attending high school. Their friendship in high school has followed them to college, and has made for a smoother transition.
All three students are pursuing an Associates of Arts degree which lets them take similar classes. This also allows them to ride to campus together, study together and keep each other accountable in their studies.
Each student comes from a different background. Radilla moved to Leadville as a small girl from Mexico. Shoup came to Leadville from Nebraska three years ago, and Ritacco was born and raised in Leadville. In high school, common bonds were band and choir. Radilla was also involved in Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) and the school’s literary magazine. Ritacco is currently involved in 4H and volleyball. Attending high school, college, studying and working part-time has unfortunately left little time for any of the students to be involved in other college’s activities.
Radilla and Shoup both received the Trail 100 Legacy Scholarship upon graduation from Lake County High School. Julie McMurry, LCHS counselor, was instrumental in leading them both to attending college. The lower tuition at CMC was also a factor. They feel they are getting a quality education and encourage other Lake County High School students and graduates to attend CMC. Radilla says, “I’m getting a great education, and the teachers help out and make sure you know the material.” Shoup adds that “the class sizes are small and you get personal attention, and the teachers make the material relatable.” Ritacco summed it up with “It’s a great place to meet people from all over the country. It’s a relaxed, friendly place to be.”
The three young ladies affectionately call themselves the “troublesome trio.” They are friendly, cheerful and enthusiastic, but are also serious about their education. All three students would like to go on to a four-year college. Shoup is interested in pursuing a music performance degree at CSU; Ritacco would like to continue on to Western State College majoring in either teaching or music; and Radilla in interested in fine arts or teaching.
Friendship and support are important to Jackie, Chelsey and Mariel. By watching each other’s backs, they are helping each other succeed not only in college, but in life.