#MCCGrads2026: Commencement 1 p.m. Student Speaker Havannah Jolly

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"Your path and your timing don’t have to look like anyone else’s—what matters is that you made it."

Choosing a career path isn’t always straightforward, especially right out of high school. Havannah Jolly knows that firsthand. “I just kind of did little things for, I think, four years,” she says, before finding her direction at MCC. Drawn to helping others and seeking stability, she explores the medical field.

Now, Havannah will earn her associate in applied science in physical therapist assistant degree at MCC-Penn Valley Health Science Institute. As she prepares to graduate, the moment is bittersweet. “I love school so much. I feel like I thrived here,” she says. “My teachers are amazing. I didn’t think I would do as well as I did, academically.”

Next, she plans to work in a hospital, continue earning certifications and eventually become a clinical instructor. “Because of the hospitals that take students like me, I want to teach others how to do this,” she says.

Homeschooled growing up, Havannah never had a traditional graduation ceremony but always dreamed of that experience. Now, as a commencement speaker, she looks forward to the moment. “I think it’ll be really cool to have those pictures and share them with my kids someday,” she says.

When she stands before the MCC Class of 2026, Havannah will be the first in her family to graduate from college. Her message: your path and your timing don’t have to look like anyone else’s—what matters is that you made it.